China’s Weaponization of Trade Against Japan Threatens Regional Stability and American Interests

China has once again demonstrated its willingness to wield economic pressure as a tool for geopolitical gain by launching a formal investigation into imports of dichlorosilane from Japan—a chemical critical in semiconductor manufacturing—just days after imposing sweeping export curbs on dual-use goods that can support Japan’s military capabilities. This move is not isolated; it fits within Beijing’s broader strategy to intimidate neighbors and assert dominance in East Asia, directly challenging the free market principles that underpin global prosperity, including that of the United States. Is China Using Economic Coercion to Undermine Sovereign Nations? The Chinese Commerce Ministry claims this latest...