China has resumed procedures to export rare earth metals to Japan after the bilateral dispute over the Senkaku Islands reportedly halted shipments of the critical materials, trading house sources said Wednesday.
A Chinese mining company has restarted applications for exports and Chinese customs authorities have confirmed that cargo will be shipped once the procedures are completed, the sources said.
Separately, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku said that China may have started trying to repair ties with Japan, but more must be done to reduce the bilateral tension.
"Currently, we are not in a win-win relationship. It is probably obvious to everyone," the government's top spokesman said at a news conference. "However, I presume that (China) has started making efforts to bring the situation back to zero (from negative)."