Today's "Lianhe Zaobao" published an article stating, "China has introduced new measures to restrict the export of rare earths. According to analysts interviewed, this round of rare earth export controls has significantly expanded in scope and intensity. It is both a countermeasure against the U.S. and its allies' efforts to suppress China's high-tech industry, as well as a move to gain more leverage in upcoming Sino-U.S. trade negotiations."
Comments: From the perspective of countermeasures, the new regulations cover the entire supply chain of rare earth technology, equipment, and raw materials in a comprehensive manner. Even the "0.1% Chinese content" rule blocks the loopholes for transshipment. As a key player with 70% of global refined production capacity and over 90% of medium and heavy rare earth supply, China's move precisely targets the resource lifeline of the U.S. military and high-end manufacturing—after all, 78% of U.S. defense contractors had been warned that they would shut down within 90 days if they lacked rare earths. The targeted nature of the countermeasures is self-evident.
From the perspective of negotiation leverage, the timing and strategy are highly meaningful: choosing to introduce the policy before the APEC summit and during the U.S. preparation for trade negotiations, by clearly stipulating rigid rules such as "military use prohibited, high-end chip use reviewed one by one," while retaining the flexible space of "all reasonable demands should be granted as much as possible," it not only demonstrates the ability to control resources but also leaves room for negotiations. This "combination of firmness and flexibility" aims to reshape the discourse power in the Sino-U.S. game and force the U.S. to re-evaluate the cost of technological suppression.
Original text: www.toutiao.com/article/1845584668416004/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.