Japan, Britain step up cybersecurity and critical minerals cooperation as China’s influence grows

Japan and the United Kingdom agreed on Saturday to fast-track cooperation on cybersecurity and the supply of critical minerals as concerns grow over China’s expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his visit to Japan came at a moment of profound global disruption, marked by geopolitical, economic and technological shocks that are reshaping international relations.

Starmer’s overnight stop in Tokyo followed his visit to Beijing, where he held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and agreed to pursue a long-term, stable “strategic partnership.” The visit comes amid heightened tensions between Japan and China, particularly after comments by Japanese leader Sanae Takaichi on the possibility of Japan’s involvement should China take military action against Taiwan, the self-governed island claimed by Beijing.

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Speaking at a joint press conference, Starmer said he and Takaichi had agreed to deepen collective security cooperation across the Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific, strengthen economic resilience, and launch a new cyber strategic partnership aimed at safeguarding their economies from growing digital threats.

Japan has been stepping up its cybersecurity as experts have raised concerns about its vulnerability, especially as the country accelerates its military buildup and works more closely with the United States and other partners.

Meanwhile, Takaichi, noting a growing concern about the global export restrictions on critical minerals, said “we agreed that it is urgent for the like-minded countries to work together” to strengthen supply chain resilience.

Critical minerals include rare earth elements. While 17 elements are classified as rare earth, the US government has identified 50 minerals overall that are labelled critical minerals, which also include a number of other minerals that are seen as essential to the economic and military strength of the nation.

Japan’s only treaty ally is the US and, in response to uncertainty over Washington’s security commitment in the region, the East Asian country has been expanding and stepping up its partnership with other friendly nations, such as Australia and Britain.

As major trading and defence partners, Japan and Britain agreed to cooperate in building more diversified supply chains in critical minerals and other areas, he said. The two sides will work together to support institutions for a free and predictable multilateral trade system, including expanding the 12-nation Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and its collaboration with the EU.

“I hope to elevate Japan-British relations even higher,” Takaichi said.

With inputs from agencies