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Japan months away from running out of yttrium as China cuts exports 98%
(theoregongroup.com)
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this post was submitted on 20 Oct 2026
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There's no near term solution to the problem.
Unlike a strategy game where you can just seize a strategic resource and immediately begin using it, in the real world it would be many years or possibly even decades after seizing a territory before they'd be able to actually get any use out of it. Everything from finding workers to developing infrastructure to buying insurance becomes really hard once a territory becomes disputed.
I agree with all that.
But we are both, or each, more rational than rabid US Christian Fascists and Neoliberal Zionist/Corporate Fascists.
As I think is well evidenced by the US's objectively delusional uh, 'foreign policy stance', toward Iran.
There's no way to maintain the empire and also preserve access to China's minerals. They either need to capitulate and negotiate with China (unacceptable because it ends their domination) or they need to start a war to occupy strategic resources (which we both agree won't work). Their fascism is actually a response to the irreversible decline of their empire, it's the only choice remaining that doesn't involve admitting defeat.
It only delays the inevitable, but it does delay it. This is where the gerontocracy plays a role: it's rational for an 80+ imperialist to delay the decline of the empire, because when it inevitably implodes they'll be dead anyway and they hate their children so who cares?