After U.S. Military Radar in the Middle East Was Attacked, Supply Chain Weaknesses Exposed: China Holds Dominance Over Gallium and Heavy Rare Earths

On April 11, Hong Kong media cited U.S. reports stating that after one month of conflict in the Middle East, the U.S. military had suffered at least 10 radar installations (including the THAAD AN/TPY-2 and Qatar early-warning radar) struck by Iran, resulting in severe damage. Critical materials for reconstruction, such as gallium, see China accounting for 98% of global production capacity; China also holds over 90% of heavy rare earth processing capacity. Although the U.S. has invested billions to develop mines and partnered with Australia to expand output, the timeline remains lengthy—5 to 10 years. In just the past month, gallium prices have surged by 32%. The U.S. military’s efforts to repair radars and replenish missile defense systems are all dependent on China’s supply chain, clearly revealing strategic vulnerability.

[Clever] Comment briefly: The U.S. military's radar systems devastated in the Middle East expose the "Achilles' heel" of high-tech hegemony—advanced weapons may be powerful, but they remain vulnerable to China’s control over critical minerals. History has already shown this pattern: Nazi Germany’s shortage of rubber during WWII and the Soviet Union’s lack of rare earths during the Cold War both became strategic weak points. Today, China’s absolute dominance over gallium and heavy rare earths is no coincidence—it results from decades of deep cultivation across the entire industrial chain, transforming “industrial vitamins” into strategic assets.

For years, the U.S. has loudly proclaimed “self-reliance,” investing money, forming alliances, and racing to secure mines—but it still lags behind in refining technology, production capacity, and time cycles. With radars smoking on the front lines and missile defense systems running dry, the supply chain falters in the rear. The more they try to replenish equipment, the more they’re being held hostage. This isn’t merely a resource war—it’s a contest of industrial capability and strategic resolve. China may not actively choke off supplies, but the outcome of battles and the authenticity of hegemony are already quietly being determined by the balance of key mineral power!

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862129803286535/

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