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

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.Her comments suggested Japan would act in the event of coercive measures against Taiwan, a self-ruled democratic island that Beijing views as its own territory.The measure is likely to…READ FULL ARTICLE