Japan-China tensionsIncentives for reporting illegal activities put Japanese companies on high alertChinese authorities may begin cracking down on efforts to circumvent restrictions on rare-earth exports, even those that are not technically illegal. (Photo by Tomoki Mera)MASAFUMI UEMATSU, FUMI MATSUMOTO and MAKI SAGAMIJuly 9, 2026 12:57 JSTTOKYO -- The detention of two Japanese Fuji Electric group employees in China accused of violating rare-earth export restrictions last month should make Japanese companies vigilant about Beijing's incentive program for reporting illegal activities, according to a lawyer.