China's suspension of rare earth exports to Japan has now entered its seventh month, with shipments in June again falling to a fraction of their level a year earlier. The restrictions are one sign of a broader collapse in relations between the two countries since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office last fall.

The relationship, long marked by tension, deteriorated sharply after Takaichi said that Chinese military action against Taiwan would "threaten Japan's survival." Since then, ties have continued to worsen.

William Yang, senior Northeast Asia analyst at the International Crisis Group, joins Eric to explain the politics driving this increasingly dangerous confrontation and why its consequences will be felt across Asia.

📌 Topics Covered in This Episode

• Why China-Japan relations are unraveling
• China's rare earth pressure on Japan
• Taiwan's role in the growing dispute
• Japan's expanding regional security strategy
• The future of the U.S.-Japan alliance
• What's next for Northeast Asia?

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