稀土牌打出来了？中国出口审批放缓，触动日本产业敏感神经

Group 1 - Recent reports indicate that China has slowed down the approval process for rare earth exports, particularly affecting Japanese companies, which has raised concerns in Japan's political and business circles [1][5][10] - The slowdown in approvals is perceived as a potential signal from China amidst heightened tensions in Sino-Japanese relations, particularly following controversial statements by Japanese politicians regarding Taiwan [3][7][19] - Japan's dependency on Chinese rare earths is highlighted, as the country struggles to diversify its supply sources despite efforts to develop alternative resources [10][11][17] Group 2 - The sensitivity of the rare earth approval issue is compounded by China's recent criticism of Japanese political statements, suggesting that the approval delays may be a form of response from China [7][19][21] - Japan's plans to develop rare earth resources around Minami-Torishima (South Bird Island) have faced delays, with the timeline for trial mining pushed from 2024 to 2026, reflecting the challenges in securing alternative supplies [13][15][17] - The approval process changes serve as a reminder of the delicate balance between economic cooperation and political tensions, emphasizing the need for Japan to navigate its relationship with China carefully to maintain supply chain stability [22][23]