TOKYO: Japan's trade minister urged China Sunday to resume exports to Japan of crucial manufacturing materials that Japanese officials consider effectively banned since last month amid a territorial row between the two Asian powers. Japanese companies say Beijing has blocked shipments of rare earth metals to Japan since Sept. 21 in possible retaliation for Tokyo's arrest of a Chinese fishing boat captain near disputed islands in the East China Sea. The captain, whose fishing trawler collided with two Japanese patrol boats, was later released. Beijing denies any official ban on shipments to Japan, but Japanese companies and officials say supplies have yet to resume. Trade Minister Akihiro Ohata told visiting Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Jiang Yaoping that disrupted shipments of the exotic minerals, used in computer disk drives, hybrid car components and other high-tech products, could hurt the two Asian economies. Jiang, in Tokyo to attend a Japan-China energy conservation forum, reiterated that there is no “intentional” trade embargo. He blamed “a rise in illegal shipments” for forcing authorities to step up customs inspections, Ohata said.
