Recently, Japan has shown a somewhat ‘split’ stance on the rare earth issue. On one hand, as a global leader in high-tech manufacturing, Japan heavily relies on rare earth elements—critical metals essential for electric vehicles, semiconductors, and advanced defense systems. Yet Japan produces almost no rare earths domestically and has long depended on imports, particularly from China, which accounts for over 60% of global production. To mitigate this risk, Japan has actively pursued supply chain diversification by investing in rare earth projects in Africa and Southeast Asia and collaborating with allies like the U.S. and Australia to develop alternative sources.On the other hand, Japan’s policy toward China remains cautious and at times contradictory. While strengthening its alliance with the U.S. and participating in efforts to build ‘friend-shored’ supply chains that exclude China, many Japanese companies continue robust trade and technological cooperation with Chinese partners in the rare earth sector. For instance, some Japanese firms are involved in China-led rare earth refining and separation projects. This ‘political chill but economic warmth’ highlights the tension between Japan’s strategic security alignment and economic pragmatism.Moreover, Japan is ramping up domestic R&D in rare earth recycling and substitute materials to reduce external dependence. However, complete decoupling from Chinese rare earths remains unfeasible in the short term. Thus, Japan’s apparent ‘split’ on rare earths reflects its broader geopolitical balancing act: aligning strategically with Western allies while safeguarding vital economic ties with China.
近期，日本在稀土问题上的立场显得有些“分裂”。一方面，作为全球高科技制造业强国，日本高度依赖稀土元素——这些关键金属广泛用于电动汽车、半导体、精密武器等战略产业。然而，日本自身几乎不产稀土，长期以来严重依赖进口，尤其是来自中国的供应（中国占全球稀土产量的60%以上）。为降低风险，日本积极推动供应链多元化，包括投资非洲、东南亚的稀土项目，并与美国、澳大利亚等国合作开发替代来源。但另一方面，日本政府又在对华政策上表现出谨慎甚至矛盾的态度。尽管美日同盟不断强化，并试图构建排除中国的“友岸供应链”（friend-shoring），日本企业却仍与中国保持紧密的稀土贸易和技术合作。例如，部分日本公司参与了中国主导的稀土分离提纯技术项目。这种“政冷经热”的现象，凸显了日本在安全战略与经济现实之间的张力。此外，日本国内对稀土回收和替代材料的研发投入也在加大，试图从技术层面减少对外依赖。然而短期内难以完全摆脱对中国稀土的依赖。因此，日本在稀土问题上的“分裂”，实质是其在全球地缘政治博弈中寻求平衡的缩影：既要维护与西方盟友的战略一致，又不愿牺牲与中国密切的经贸利益。
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