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China Embargos Rare Earth Exports To Japan

Hugh Pickens writes "The NY Times reports that the Chinese government has placed a trade embargo on all exports to Japan of a crucial category of minerals used in products like hybrid cars, wind turbines and guided missiles. China mines 93 percent of the world's rare earth minerals, and more than 99 percent of the world's supply of some of the most prized rare earths, which sell for several hundred dollars a pound. The embargo comes after a dispute over Japan's detention of a Chinese fishing trawler captain whose ship collided with two Japanese coast guard vessels as he tried to fish in waters controlled by Japan but long claimed by China. The Chinese embargo is likely to have immediate repercussions in Washington. The House Committee on Science and Technology is scheduled to review a detailed bill to subsidize the revival of the American rare earths industry and the House Armed Services Committee is scheduled to review the American military dependence on Chinese rare earth elements."

17 of 470 comments (clear)

  1. I can see the historians now by Cruciform · · Score: 5, Funny

    "And then World War 3 was fought over dirt."

    "Don't you mean land, Grandpa?"

    "No, dirt. But it was extra special expensive dirt. I shot me a lot of Chinese just to get a wheelbarrow full. It paid for your fancy university education. And your radiation pills."

    1. Re:I can see the historians now by MightyYar · · Score: 5, Funny

      Them's fightin' words...

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    2. Re:I can see the historians now by JordanL · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yes, but how do they fucking work?

    3. Re:I can see the historians now by Antisyzygy · · Score: 2, Funny

      Spice?

      --
      That brings me to an interesting point, / . is just "the ramblings of socially-inept, technology-literate news-mongers".
    4. Re:I can see the historians now by Unkyjar · · Score: 3, Funny

      If we allow them to build a military, their giant robots will dominate the planet and fighting for the next 100 years. There must be another way!

    5. Re:I can see the historians now by Dr_Barnowl · · Score: 4, Funny

      Magnetic fields do no work.

    6. Re:I can see the historians now by DirtyCanuck · · Score: 3, Funny

      Obligatory Willie Quote:

      "It won't last; brothers and sisters are natural enemies. Like Englishmen and Scots, or Welshmen and Scots, or Japanese and Scots, or Scots and other Scots. Damn Scots! They ruined Scotland"

  2. Zen Magnets by sexconker · · Score: 4, Funny

    So this is the reason Zen Magnets are out of stock?

    1. Re:Zen Magnets by pregister · · Score: 4, Funny

      I love this quote from the Zen Magnet website. "You'll never put them down for good. Zen Magnets are fun to play with, look good on cute people, go well with deep breaths, and may have health benefits. "

      They look good on cute people. The rest of us...sol.

  3. Re:Lead into Gold by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    $428.32

  4. Re:I can see the viagra now by fyngyrz · · Score: 3, Funny

    No one's fought a war over sex yet.

    Speak for yourself.

    --
    I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
  5. Re:I can see the viagra now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Indeed, a thousand ships were launched when King Menelaus discovered that he had run out of condoms.

    The greatest warrior on either side was Achilles, who was completely invulnerable everywhere except his heel. According to Homer, he slew Hector in a single blow with his unsheathed manhood.

    We can thank the Trojan War for incredible advances in chemistry. Many important new developments were made in latex technology, due to the Greeks' need to properly protect the Trojan Horse.

    Helen of Troy, ironically, and anachronistically, had syphilis.

  6. Re:I can see the viagra now by ThatsNotFunny · · Score: 2, Funny

    That's not true... I'm constantly at war with myself.

    --
    "Was it a millionaire who said 'Imagine No Posessions?'" -- Elvis Costello
  7. Re:Not quite that clear cut, but important nonethe by Nerdfest · · Score: 2, Funny

    3 is supposed to be "profit!!" and you have no question marks. Are you a business major or something?

  8. Re:Simple answer by oldhack · · Score: 3, Funny

    Wasabi.

    --
    Fuck systemd. Fuck Redhat. Fuck Soylent, too. Wait, scratch the last one.
  9. Re:Knew it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    China can't touch Japan. They don't have the navy for it. Basically, China couldn't defeat Japan before Japan nuked China. Japan is not currently a nuclear nation, but they have been a week away for thirty years. They've got nuclear power plants and a space agency. All they need to do is replace the astronauts with warheads and aim somewhat lower than the moon.

  10. Re:Not quite that clear cut, but important nonethe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Actually, the lack of question marks and a profit step betray him as a non-business major.