Strategic NewsJapan's Sojitz to import rare earth yttrium from Malaysia
Toward Programme

Japan's Sojitz to import rare earth yttrium from Malaysia

Nikkei Asia Major outlet·2026-10-30TradeP1: Resource SovereigntyP5: Strategic Decoupling
Why it matters

This article signals accelerating decoupling of rare-earth supply chains from Chinese control, with Japan (a key AUKUS ally and Indo-Pacific partner) securing yttrium from Malaysia rather than China. For Australia, this demonstrates that alternative supply chains for critical minerals are maturing, reducing the economic coercion risk China can exert over allied nations and supporting the broader strategic goal of resource sovereignty and industrial resilience across the Quad.

Read the original report at Nikkei Asia

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Where this sits in the model

This development bears on 2 of the eight pillars of Australian preparedness — the overall picture right now is 5/100.

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