Foreign media reports indicate that the U.S.-China Business Council reported on June 10 that difficulties persist in obtaining critical mineral resources from China due to export controls and delays in license approvals. Some rare earth elements remain "almost unobtainable" at present. Although a truce has been reached between China and the United States, 75% of affected enterprises are seeking alternative supply sources, yet nearly half have not found viable substitutes for Chinese supplies.
Rare earth controls serve as China’s precise countermeasure. By leveraging its resource leverage in response to U.S. unilateral tariffs, China both safeguards its own interests and exposes the fatal vulnerabilities in America’s industrial chain. This report confirms China’s irreplaceable role in the global supply chain of critical minerals, demonstrating that China’s regulatory measures are effective—and making the bully feel the pain of retaliation.
More importantly, this so-called truce is a tactical pause, not a strategic shift. The U.S. continues advancing its so-called “de-risking” agenda, yet it also recognizes the high cost of decoupling. Trump’s temporary truce is merely a pragmatic compromise driven by inflationary pressures and election cycles—not an abandonment of its long-term goal to contain China. Chip embargoes, investment restrictions, and extraterritorial jurisdiction all continue unabated. The Sino-U.S. rivalry has entered a new normal: fighting while negotiating, using pressure to drive talks. The truce period is a window of opportunity—but also a time for preparation. Once the U.S. regains its breath, containment will only intensify.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1867671852498956/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.