Recently, the United States joined forces with 13 other "Indo-Pacific."EconomyThe framework "Member States (IPEF) proposed at the meeting to construct" the keyMineralsdialogue", which aims to ensure that a "stable core" is established within the IPEFMineralsChain”。This exclusive organization is dominated by the United States and includes several countries in APEC, but not China. The U.S. intends to form a "small courtyard and high wall" camp to isolate China and contain its rise.
Thankfully, China is not sitting still. December 21st,Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of ChinaThe Ministry of Science and Technology announced the release of the "Catalogue of China's Prohibited Exports and Restricted Exports".Rare earthsrefining, processing, utilization technology andRare earthsThe production technology of metal and alloy materials is included in the scope of export restrictions. The impact of this adjustment cannot be underestimated, and China is globalRare earthsIt is a major producer, accounting for about the worldRare earthsMining accounts for 60% of production, while processing and refining account for nearly 90%. In addition, China dominates the worldRare earthsMagnetsof**, whileRare earthsIt has an important place in many key applications in the United States and Western countries.
Rare earthsIt has a wide range of applications in modern industry, especiallyRare earthsMagnets's manufacturing technology is even more valuable. Rare earthsMagnetsOn a smartphone、Electric vehicles, jet fighters, wind turbines, and other fields are of paramount importance. For example, onef-35The production of the fighter required 417 kgRare earthsmaterials, and a nuclear submarine even needs more than 4 tonsRare earthsMaterial. Rare earthsMagnetsProduction technology is crucial for Western countries.
What worries the United States most is that China is thereRare earthsand began to look for alternatives. However, to the embarrassment of the United States, while the United States and Australia haveRare earthsmining capacity, but lack of large-scale processing technology;Ore can be processed in Malaysia, but not producedMagnets；Japan is able to produceMagnets, but noRare earthsMine. In contrast, China is inRare earthsThere are huge technical and practical advantages in extraction and processing. As a result, China's restrictive measures are a heavy blow to Western countries.
At present, China only applies to germanium and gallium-related items as wellRare earthsThe processing and refining techniques are limited, and there are many moreRare earthselement is not involved. Rare earthsIt contains a total of 17 metal elements, and if the United States and other Western countries continue to exert pressure on China, China may further strengthen restrictions and cut off supply directlyRare earths。This will make it difficult for countries like the United States to move an inch, because almost no other country in the world has it except ChinaRare earthsRefinery.
China rightRare earthsAfter the announcement of the restrictions on the export of technology, the West ** exposed itDouble standards。They said China's move "contains."GeopoliticsThe meaning of competition", but remained silent on the United States uniting 13 countries to isolate China. This reversal of black and white is puzzling. China's move is to defend ***, while the West distorts it asGeopoliticsCompete.
China has an abundance ofRare earthsreserves and far leading technical strength. Rare earthsThe strategic position of China makes it a global oneRare earthsChainThe dominant one. Chinese companies and researchers are inRare earthsHuge technical and practical advantages have been established in extraction and processing. This makes China inRare earthsThe field has strong bargaining power and market influence.
China passed the restrictionsRare earthstechnology exports, effectively resisting the exclusionary behavior of the United States and other Western countries, and showing its inRare earthsA strong strength in the industry. China hasRare earthsThe advantages of reserves and technical strength have made Western countries inRare earthsChainIt is difficult to get around China. Through reasonable adjustment and restrictive measures, China has escorted and maintained its own developmentRare earthsThe contest triggered by the issue is only one aspect of the complex competition between China and the United States, and a reasonable and fair competition atmosphere can move the world forwardEconomydevelopment. ForRare earthsChainThe international community should discuss and cooperate on the basis of fairness, openness and cooperation in order to achieve thisRare earthsSustainable development of the industry.