Batteries No Longer Included

China Blocks Export of Crucial Minerals to Japan as Dispute Escalates
Begun, the Batteries Wars, Has.

Sharply raising the stakes in a dispute over Japan's detention of a Chinese fishing trawler captain, the Chinese government has placed a trade embargo on all exports to Japan of a crucial category of minerals used in products like hybrid cars, iPads, wind turbines and... guided missiles.

Chinese customs officials are halting all shipments to Japan of so-called rare earth elements, industry experts said on Thursday morning.

SO - What're you going to do about it Japan?! Yeah, you?! Without your fancy batteries? Huh?
What? You're going to mine asteroids and the Moon?! Isn't that a bit drastic? In a 500 foot battle robot suit?

(Go on, Japan, I triple dog dare you - can't be any more expensive than fighting in Afghanistan!)