China detains local staffer handling rare metals at Japan trader

Latest incident comes as Beijing clamps down on information leaks

20231022N China rare earth mine

The Bayan Obo rare-earth mine in China's Inner Mongolia. © Reuters

Nikkei staff writers

TOKYO -- A Japanese trading company's Chinese employee overseeing rare metals in China was taken into custody by Chinese authorities earlier this year, according to sources familiar with bilateral relations.

The reason for the person's detention in March is unknown. But with China tightening its control over rare metals, the person may be suspected of leaking information.

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