China begins choking off exports of rare earths to Japan: WSJ

TOKYO - China has begun choking off exports of rare earths and rare-earth magnets to Japanese companies, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, following Beijing's tightening of export controls on dual-use items.

The rare earth export restrictions are the latest move by China amid an escalating diplomatic row between Beijing and Tokyo over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks in November on a Taiwan contingency.