Rare earths, as the key raw materials of modern industry, are vividly called"Industrial Vitamins"。China is the world's largest producer of rare earths, with abundant reserves and strong processing capabilities. However, reserves and production alone are not enough for China to occupy a leading position in the rare earth** market. The main reason why China is able to dominate the global rare earth market and is regarded as a weakness by some Western powers is China's super strength in rare earth processing and application.
China's rare earth processing capacity far exceeds that of other countries, not only in the refining, sorting and purification of rare earths, but also in the innovative research and application of rare earth materials. Rare earths in countries such as the United States need to be shipped to China for processing after mining, making China the largest importer of rare earths in these countries. According to the data, in the whole year of 2022, the cumulative number of rare earth permanent magnet materials exported by China is about 530,000 tons, and the cumulative number of rare earth smelting and separation products exported is about 490,000 tons, far more than other countries.
Rare earths have a wide range of applications in modern industry, especially in the fields of defense and new energy. American-made high-tech products, such as missiles and airplanes, can't do without the help of rare earths. For ordinary people, rare earths also permeate every aspect of daily life. For example, rare earth lithium battery is one of the core components of new energy vehicles, and if there is no rare earth, the development of new energy vehicles will be greatly limited.
The importance of China's rare earths to countries around the world is reflected in the best aspects of high-quality rare earth materials. Taking magnets as an example, China is the only country that has large-scale production of rare earth magnets, and its technical level far exceeds that of other countries. The processing and refining technology of rare earths and the control of the entire industrial chain have enabled China to achieve long-term accumulated advantages in the field of rare earths, which are beyond the reach of other countries.
Recently, China has tightened restrictions on the export of rare earths, especially rare earth mining, beneficiation and smelting technologies. This has limited the circulation of rare earths in the international market and put pressure on the manufacture of high-tech products such as new energy vehicles. The reaction of Western countries to this has been mixed, with some happy and some sad.
The purpose of China's move is to make reasonable use of its rare earth resource advantages to promote the development of new energy vehicles, from passive to active. China has announced that it will continue to increase its rare earth quota in 2023 to meet the international demand for products such as electric vehicles. This move has caused tension in Japan, which believes that China's move is an attempt to squeeze out Western countries, and may even trigger the so-called"Rare Earth Wars"。
However, China has repeatedly stressed that rare earths are not a symbol of struggle, but a symbol of democracy and peace. China hopes to promote the sustainable development of global science and technology and industry through reasonable and compliant management and utilization of rare earth resources. As a strategic mineral resource, the exploration, development and utilization of rare earths need to be fully considered, and China is promoting the development of the rare earth industry in a more high-end, smarter and more environmentally friendly direction.
As the world's largest producer of rare earths, China has the advantages and responsibilities of rare earth resources, and has the right to rationally allocate and manage rare earth resources. The dominance of rare earths is not only reflected in the technology and industrial chain, but more importantly, the understanding and rational use of rare earth resources. China has accumulated a wealth of practical experience and high-level technical skills in the research and utilization of rare earth resources, and even if other countries have the opportunity to catch up, it will take a long time to equal China.
In short, China's rare earth strategy aims to promote the sustainable use and rational allocation of global rare earth resources, and promote the development and green transformation of global industry. As a major country in rare earth resources, China has the responsibility to assume the responsibility of the management and utilization of rare earth resources, and also hopes to promote its own technological innovation and industrial upgrading through this initiative. The management and utilization of rare earth resources requires the joint efforts of all countries in the world to achieve resource sharing and mutual benefit through cooperation and reasonable competition. The rare earth war is not what we want to see, and we should work together to push the global rare earth industry in a more sustainable and green direction.