China rare-earth exports to Japan, US plunge after restrictions

China is demonstrating sustained willingness to weaponise critical-mineral supply—rare earths now restricted to Japan (−50%) and US (−30%) as economic/diplomatic coercion. Australia sources rare earths from China and lacks domestic refining, leaving its own defence industrial base and electricity grid exposed to similar supply disruption in a conflict or acute geopolitical crisis. This reinforces the strategic case for decoupling (Pillar 5) and resource sovereignty (Pillar 1), but also illustrates the acute vulnerability Australia faces if such leverage is deployed.