cover image: China’s warning shots with minerals that run the world

China’s warning shots with minerals that run the world

30 Sep 2024

On August 15 this year, China announced its decision to restrict the export of antimony, a critical mineral used in strategic sectors such as defence, for military equipment such as missiles, infrared sensors, flares, ammunition, and even nuclear weapons. China’s Commerce Ministry justified this move on the basis of “national security”, adding that the measure would take effect from September 15. The declaration, however, was part of a series of countermoves that began in August 2023. Moves and countermoves When it comes to critical minerals, China is not only a stakeholder but also a leader. It dominates every supply chain segment — upstream, midstream, and downstream, covering mining, extraction, refining and processing. It enjoys a near-monopoly status, controlling 60% of rare earth production, 60% of critical minerals production and 80% of the processing worldwide. Therefore, any decision China makes has profound national security implications globally. The European Union and countries such as India, Japan and the United States are strategically vulnerable due to their dependence on critical minerals.
india china supply chain antimony export restrictions foreign policy graphite semiconductors international affairs rare earths quad critical minerals germanium gallium ev batteries u.s. control weaponization

Authors

Abhishek Sharma

Organizations mentioned

Pages
6
Published in
India

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