Japanese Heavy Machinery Firm Employee Detained in China

Sources close to the matter said Wednesday that a Japanese employee of a major heavy electrical machinery manufacturer in China has been detained in the country. The incident is believed to be linked to efforts to export products involving rare earths, a sector where Beijing is tightening export controls.

It is not yet clear who the employee is or when the detention occurred. Details of the allegations and legal proceedings are still being clarified.

Rare earths are a group of elements critical to the production of many high-tech devices, from smartphones to renewable energy systems. China currently accounts for the majority of global rare earth mining and processing, and has stepped up export control measures on these products in recent years.