Japan Seeks Support as Fears Rise Over China’s Rare Earth Grip

Japan is ramping up efforts to reach out to its Group of Seven peers and beyond amid mounting concerns over China’s grip on rare earths as the dispute with Beijing escalates.

Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said she will meet with counterparts of other industrialized democracies to discuss critical minerals during a trip to the US starting Sunday, while Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi is also set to hold talks with his US counterpart on Thursday. At home, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will be holding a summit with South Korea’s Lee Jae Myung next week to reaffirm the alliance between the two key US allies.