French journalist's comment: The Middle East has oil, China has rare earths

China-US - China's advantages can be traced back to the 1990s when mining boomed. China's rare earth reserves account for about 23% of the world's total. In 1992, when the then Chinese leader visited one of China's largest rare earth production areas, Baotou in Inner Mongolia, he once said a famous saying: "The Middle East has oil, China has rare earths."

A French journalist quoted this statement by the Chinese leader and reported that "In the trade war with the United States, China is protecting its position with rare earths." The article starts by stating that rare earths are a trump card in trade discussions between China, the United States, and Europe.

The article on BFMTV, a French 24-hour television station, on the 12th stated that China controls most of the rare earth deposits, which are strategic minerals vital to the modern economy and defense. Beijing also announced new controls on the export of extraction and processing technologies for these materials on Thursday.

According to a study by the US Geological Survey, the global reserves amount to 110 million tons, of which China has 44 million tons.

The French television station said that China has invested heavily in this field. China has also applied for numerous patents in production processes, consolidating its leading position. According to the International Energy Agency, 92% of the global output is currently refined in China.

A French journalist cited examples that rare earths are widely used in daily and high-tech equipment, from light bulbs to missiles. Each has unique properties and is difficult to replace. For example, neodymium magnets are used to make strong permanent magnets in missile motors to ensure their accuracy and efficiency.

According to a recent analysis by the US think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the F-35 aircraft made by US manufacturer Lockheed Martin requires more than 400 kilograms of rare earths.

The French journalist stated that since early April, China's rare earth exports have slowed down, when Beijing began requiring domestic producers to obtain licenses to export seven types of rare earths. This decision is widely seen as a countermeasure against Washington's tariffs on Chinese goods.

The article finally said that this is not the first time Beijing has used this trump card. After tensions in disputed waters, China briefly suspended supplies to Japan. Since then, Tokyo has been trying to diversify its resources, such as signing an agreement with Australia's Lynas Group to produce in Malaysia and developing its recycling capabilities. However, some experts say that Tokyo has only achieved minimal progress, highlighting the difficulty of truly reducing dependence on China.

The US Department of Defense aims to develop national supply chains to ensure secure access to certain rare earths needed for weapons by 2027. On October 11, a report by a German think tank also recommended that the EU should seize the opportunity of a significant increase in military budgets to invest in strengthening the autonomy of the rare earth supply chain.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1845832889974793/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author.