Rare earths may sound like a mysterious term, but they were actually isolated from a piece of bituminous ore by the Finnish chemist Gadolin as early as 1794. It is not only the "vitamin" of modern technological development, but also the "trump card" of national strategic resources. Did you know that the rare earth market has been almost monopolized by China, and more than 90% of the world's rare earth supply depends on China. But it's more complicated than you might think. Why have China's rare earths become the focus of international contention? Why are the United States and Japan eyeing China's rare earths? Let me find out and unveil the veil of this international game on rare earths.
Rare earths, known as "industrial gold," are essentially a group of 17 metallic elements that are used in a wide range of high-tech products, from smartphones to electric vehicles to military equipment. With its abundant rare earth resources, China has established its dominance in the global rare earth market in the past few decades. According to statistics, China's rare earth resources once accounted for 41.36% of the world's total, and although they have now dropped to 33%, they still rank first in the world.
Mastering resources does not mean mastering the right to speak. For a long time, China's rare earths have been consumed by the international market at extremely low prices, while the domestic environment and resources have suffered serious damage. In particular, in 2012, the Chinese government issued a white paper entitled "China's Rare Earth Status and Policy", which clearly stated that the mainland is responsible for more than 90% of the world's rare earth supply, a figure that has attracted widespread attention and discussion around the world.
Against this backdrop, China has begun to adjust its rare earth export policy, trying to remediate overexploited mining areas by implementing export quotas and strengthening environmental protection regulations, and gradually increasing the export price of rare earth products. This series of measures has aroused the dissatisfaction of many countries, including the United States and Japan, who accuse China of manipulating the rare earth market and restricting rare earth exports, threatening their industrial security.
Not only that, the international competition for rare earths is also becoming increasingly fierce. Not long ago, the Japanese government had a large reserve of rare earths in China to ensure the stability of its high-tech industrial chain. In a 2010 report, the United States pointed out that rare earths were a key factor in its national security, and it began to re-exploit its rare earth resources and seek to import rare earths from other countries such as Vietnam and Australia.
The United States, along with some other countries, is also trying to reduce its dependence on Chinese rare earths through diplomatic and trade means. Their purpose is obvious: on the one hand, to ensure their own industrial safety, and on the other hand, they want to reduce their dependence on Chinese rare earths by diversifying their supply sources.
In the face of international pressure and complex changes in the market, China's rare earth industry is constantly adjusting its own strategy. From the simple export of raw materials, to the development of deep processing, to today's strategic alliance to seek the establishment of global rare earth resources, China's rare earth policy is gradually maturing. Today, China has not only improved the mining and processing technology of rare earths, but also made a series of efforts in environmental protection and resource sustainability.
Environmental issues are an unavoidable issue in rare earth mining. Rare earth elements are often accompanied by radioactive materials, and their mining and processing produce large amounts of hazardous substances. This is one of the reasons why, although the United States and European countries have their own rare earth resources, they have long chosen to mothball and rely on imports. For a long time, China's low-priced exports of rare earths have actually come at the expense of its own environment.
Situations such as these have sparked extensive discussions on China's rare earth policy at home and abroad. Domestic experts, scholars and people of insight have called for re-evaluation and positioning of the development and utilization of rare earth resources from the height of national strategy. For example, Zhao Zengqi, president of the Baotou (Baotou Steel) Rare Earth Research Institute, pointed out that China's rare earth reserves are not as sufficient as before, and we need to manage and use this precious resource more scientifically.
The Chinese government is also actively promoting the high-quality development of the rare earth industry, strengthening international cooperation and enhancing the added value of rare earth products through the establishment of a rare earth trading market, and striving to occupy a more favorable position in the global rare earth industry chain. This is not only about economic interests, but also about national security and international status.
International attention and pressure on China's rare earth policy still exists. The U.S. continues to use various means to try to undermine China's influence in the global rare earths market, and China needs to find a balance between safeguarding its national interests and responding to international concerns. Rare earth has become not only a commodity, but also an important chess piece in the international political economy.
Rare earth warfare is not a simple commercial competition, it is related to national security, economic development and even global strategic layout. Every step of China's action in the field of rare earths has touched the nerves of the world. How to protect one's own resources and cope with the complex environment of the international market is a game of wisdom and courage.