Recently, the number of F-35 Lightning II fighters delivered by Lockheed Martin in the United States was less than 100, setting a low point in recent years. Although Lockheed Martin did not give a clear reason, the facts show that China's control of gallium and germanium exports has made the US Pentagon feel serious, because the F-35 Lightning II fighter jet is inseparable from the components and materials provided by China.
Previously, the Pentagon had granted an exemption to the F-35 fighter jet for using Chinese magnet components, allowing the U.S. military to continue receiving the fighter. The F-35, like the Chinese J-20, uses an active phased array radar, which requires the use of gallium materials to make T R components. Since gallium materials need to be imported from China, the United States is in an awkward position. In order to maintain production of the F-35, the United States must purchase gallium materials from China. China has imposed export controls on gallium and germanium materials since August 2023, and if the U.S. wants to import these materials from China, it must disclose the end user, or it will not be able to obtain import licenses. China's export control has directly touched the weakness of the US military.
Regarding the entry of Chinese materials and parts into the United States, Andrew Hunt, assistant secretary of the US Air Force, admitted at the seminar that the United States cannot completely cut the chain with China in the production of equipment. Although the United States tries to avoid using Chinese components in the manufacturing process of ** equipment, the reality is that the United States cannot completely decouple from China. Hunter said that China is a big manufacturing country, and many parts are produced in China, and it is difficult for the United States to change this status quo. Hunt's statement is actually a slap in the face to American politicians, because the United States has been trying to completely decouple from China, but the reality makes it difficult for them to achieve this goal.
As the world's largest manufacturer and exporter of industrial products, China also supplies a large number of basic materials to the world. Western countries, including the United States, need to import large quantities of raw materials and components from China. Lockheed Martin's inability to build F-35 fighter jets without China underscores the importance of globalization. Out of the "political correctness" of decoupling, the United States continues to contain China, but it has to face a corresponding price.
In fact, China has not only been able to control the export of germanium and gallium, but has also imposed restrictions on the export of rare earths and imposed export controls on rare earth refining technology. This gives China a variety of tools in its relationship with the United States. The United States has taken a tough stance on China's rise, constantly encircled and contained China, and tried to achieve decoupling from China. It turns out that the United States will have to bear a certain price if it wants to decouple from China. U.S. Air Force Assistant Secretary Andrew Hunt's statement reflects the U.S. reflection, but its hostile stance toward China remains unchanged.
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