China has banned exports of dual-use items to Japan that can be used for military purposes, according to a commerce ministry statement on Tuesday, Beijing's latest move in reaction to an early November remark by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi about Taiwan.

The Chinese are weaponizing silver using the same strategy they used to dominate the rare earth metals market.

Japanese authorities declined to comment on the possible impact on Japanese industry. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

TOKYO, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Japan called China's ban on dual-use exports for its military "absolutely unacceptable" on Wednesday, amid a looming threat of broader curbs on vital rare earths in an escalating dispute between Asia's top two economies.

The two Asian giants are locked in an escalating row triggered by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi commenting on security challenges linked to Taiwan.

Probe comes amid concerns the US$2.5 billion acquisition could breach tech export controls and encourage more start-ups to relocate offshore.

The Chinese government has taken aim at Japan with a “rare earth control” card, protesting Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s remarks suggesting potential intervention in the event of a Taiwan contingency.

China has banned exports of some rare earth elements and other items to Japan that could be used for military purposes, straining already tense relations between the two countries following the Japanese prime minister’s recent remarks on Taiwan.

The dispute intensified after Beijing imposed the export ban this week, targeting goods and technologies with both civilian and military

US grants TSMC annual license to import chipmaking tools to China, balancing export controls and global semiconductor supply chains.

As silver transitions from commodity to critical mineral, China’s new export-licensing rules could disrupt global supply chains and heighten India’s import dependence.