The
actual
stance
of
the
Chinese
government
was
unclear,
as
some
local
reports
quoted
officials
denying
that
action
had
been
taken
to
halt
the
flow
of
the
metals,
which
are
used
in
wind
turbines,
solar
panels
and
electric
vehicles.
But
media
outlets
quoted
industry
sources
saying
materials
bound
for
Japan
were
being
held
up
at
Chinese
ports.
Japan
ultimately
released
the
captain
of
the
vessel,
which
was
in
a
collision
with
two
of
its
coastguard
vessels,
but
the
sabre-rattling
underscored
the
strategic
importance
of
China's
dominance
of
the
global
market
for
rare…
