I am more surprised Japan hasn't secured more of the rare strategic metals supply after the trade dust off with China years back, even South Korea has done better in securing strategic resources particularly the rare earth resources for its manufacturing base. At the end of the day China is still the main game to ship the stuff out. Unless US manufacturing increase there is little need to secure a lot of supply control, which is crazy given the height of the cold war when the US had deep strategic metals depth. If they are going to poke China trade at least acquire a large stock pile to sustain any trade retaliation shortfall.
