Japan"s Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama Photo: VCG

　　Criticizing the Japanese finance minister"s claim that Japan seeks to "take away" China"s power to "weaponize" rare earths, Chinese experts said her wishful attempt to decouple supply chains is politically motivated and violates market principles.

　　Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama claimed that Japan should work with the US and Europe to build a supply chain for rare earths and prevent China from "using the critical minerals as an economic weapon," Nikkei Asia reported on Saturday.

　　Japan"s slandering that China is "weaponizing" rare earths are misleading and intended to deceive the international community, Lü Yaodong, Deputy Director of the Institute of Japanese Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Saturday.

　　On Tuesday, China tightened dual-use export controls destined for Japan, applying them to all items on China"s control list, including rare-earth-related products.

　　Responding to media inquiries about the move, He Yadong, a spokesperson for China"s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), said on Thursday that the decision to tighten export controls on dual-use items destined for Japan is fully legitimate, reasonable, and lawful. The spokesperson added that the move aims to curb the Japanese government"s attempts at "remilitarization" and nuclear armament.

　　China"s legitimate move stems from Japan"s "remilitarization" and its wrongful actions and statements, Lü said, noting that Japan violates its commitment to a peaceful path and seriously undermines regional stability. China"s actions, which are reasonable and lawful, do not affect civilian use at all. China, as a responsible major country, is acting to safeguard world peace.