The West should learn from Japan how to stand up to China

China’s recent decision to target Japanese companies with export controls on critical minerals and “dual?use” technologies isn’t just an escalation in Beijing’s dispute with Tokyo. This is a moment of truth for democracies that still hope to compartmentalize economic engagement with China from geopolitical security realities. Last month, Beijing placed 20 Japanese companies on a list to restrict the sale of critical materials and dual-use technologies, citing Japan’s increasing “remilitarization” as a reason for the restriction. An additional 20 Japanese companies were placed on a “watch list,” subject to strict license requirements prior to shipping those same critical materials and…