In protest over the refusal of Japan to release an interned Chinese trawler captain, China is blocking the export of some vital raw materials to Japan. Customs officials in China are stopping shipments of ‘rare-earth’elements, which are used in products like hybrid cars, wind turbines and guided missiles. Three industry officials announced that the elements would be prevented from loading onto ships at Chinese ports this week, in an attempt to exert pressure on Japan. The captain was detained after colliding with two Coast Guard ships from Japan as he was fishing in waters controlled by Japan but long claimed by China.