China Curbs Rare Earth Exports
Ahead of the Xi–Trump summit, Beijing announced sweeping new export curbs on rare earths, lithium-ion batteries, graphite, and synthetic diamonds — a move that could reshape global supply chains and expose America’s most dangerous weakness: its military’s dependence on Chinese minerals. For decades, China has built a near-monopoly over the rare earth mining and refining industry, producing over 70% of the world’s supply and holding almost half of global reserves.
While the U.S. scaled back mining in the 1980s, China ramped up — flooding the market with cheap production and driving competitors out. Now, Beijing controls over 90% of global refining capacity, giving it unmatched leverage over industries from EVs to advanced weaponry. A new report exposes just how deep this vulnerability runs. 77% of U.S. Department of Defense platforms rely on Chinese-sourced rare earths — including 91% of Navy, 85% of Air Force, and 70% of Army weapons systems.
The F-35 fighter jet alone uses 900 pounds of these critical materials. If China tightens exports, America’s military-industrial complex could face crippling delays. This isn’t just a trade dispute — it’s a battle for technological dominance and national security. China’s export restrictions on gallium, germanium, tungsten, and now rare earths, are part of a broader strategy to remind Washington that it still controls the minerals that make modern warfare possible. As the world enters a new era of great power competition, the question isn’t whether China can weaponize its mineral dominance — it’s whether the United States can survive without it. Here’s more from World Affairs In Context.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: This is undoubtedly the chief reason behind President Donald Trump’s vow on Friday to raise tariffs on all Chinese imports by 100 percent. There are other reasons for his anger. U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, for instance, told one interviewer last week that China had bankrolled the Armed Queers of Salt Lake City. Investigator George Webb says the Armed Queers of Salt Lake City worked with Tyler Robinson to pull off the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Webb says Armed Queers leader Ermiya Fanaeian drove Robinson’s gray Dodge Challenger getaway vehicle. It’s also believed, although yet to be ascertained, that the Armed Queers trainer was a second assassin involved in the September 10 killing.)
