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How rare earths raise the stakes in China-Japan spat

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While China appears to have more immediate leverage to inflict economic pain on Japan, it will have to weigh its options.

While China appears to have more immediate leverage to inflict economic pain on Japan, it will have to weigh its options.

PHOTO: REUTERS

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BEIJING/TOKYO - China and Japan are bound together by trade and geography, but a long history of rivalry and unresolved disputes makes even periods of cooperation fragile.

Long-running flashpoints – including China’s increased military activity around a cluster of disputed islands, trade restrictions and concerns over peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait – have flared at times, reminding both sides how quickly ties can sour.

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