China detains two Japanese nationals over alleged smuggling of export-restricted goods, according to Japan. Multiple outlets report that the matter involves rare-earth related products and is linked to Chinese laws regulating imports and exports of restricted items. Japanese officials say one detainee was taken by Chinese authorities on May 18 and the second was detained about a week later, but Tokyo provides limited additional details, citing privacy. Reporting also identifies the detainees as employees connected to Japan’s electronics and industrial sector, including Fuji Electric group employees, though some accounts describe this more generally as a corporate employee connected to rare-earth exports. The detentions are presented by Japanese authorities as a suspected violation of China’s rules on banned or restricted goods. The dispute comes amid broader sensitivity around critical minerals and rare-earth supply chains; one report notes that Beijing has also announced measures such as a whistleblower hotline related to violations concerning critical mineral exports. The two countries continue to approach the case with no confirmed court outcome reported in the cited coverage.