At a regular briefing on Oct. 21, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning replied
to AFP reports that Japan’s yttrium stocks could last only months and that Tokyo
had asked Washington to press China to relax export curbs. Mao said China
applies export controls on Japan in accordance with law and regulations, aimed
at preventing Japan’s “remilitarization” and nuclear ambitions. She added
China’s position on safeguarding the stability and security of global
critical-minerals supply chains has not changed and called on all parties to act
constructively.
