China has quietly closed another more critical door! Before the rare earths were fully addressed, China has accelerated another export, and this one is even more critical. In short, China is applying the same strategy it used with rare earths to more crucial minor metals. If you choke me on chips, I will tighten the lifeline of your high-tech industry chain.
China's strategic layout in key resource sectors has taken an important step forward. Starting from August 2023, the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs jointly issued policies to implement export controls on semiconductor materials such as gallium nitride wafers and zone-melted germanium ingots, prohibiting the export of goods without official permission. The customs inspection process was upgraded simultaneously, and goods with incomplete documents were seized on the spot, leaving no room for negotiation.
By February 4, 2025, the policy was further tightened, including 25 rare metals such as tungsten, tellurium, bismuth, molybdenum, indium, and related technologies in the controlled range. The export of products such as ammonium paratungstate must undergo strict approval.
These seemingly unfamiliar metals are actually the "invisible cornerstone" of modern industry. Tungsten is used to make high-temperature components of aircraft engines, tellurium is the core material of thin-film photovoltaic batteries, bismuth is irreplaceable in the medical and nuclear industries, molybdenum is a key additive in high-end steel, and indium is a necessary raw material for liquid crystal display panels.
As the world's largest producer of minor metals, China's exports of gallium and germanium decreased by nearly half in 2024 compared to the previous year, while the export of cadmium telluride increased by 1.87% against the trend, showing the deep dependence of the international market on China's resources.
Data from the U.S. Geological Survey shows that 82% of antimony and over 50% of germanium imported by the United States depend on imports, of which 63% of antimony and 26% of germanium come from China.
Behind this resource game lies a deeper struggle for global industrial chain restructuring. In recent years, the United States has frequently upgraded restrictions on chip exports to China, trying to curb China's high-tech development.
China, however, has responded with "precise countermeasures," extending its rare earth control experience to a broader range of strategic resources. This strategy aligns with the legislative purpose of the Export Control Law to safeguard national security and is also consistent with international non-proliferation obligations.
Data shows that the global antimony price surged from $13,000 per ton to $38,000 per ton in 2024, and the price of germanium increased by more than 70%, reflecting market concerns about supply chain stability.
For China, this is both a defensive measure against external pressure and an active layout to promote industrial upgrading. Companies like Xiamen Tungsten have applied tungsten wire to the cutting of photovoltaic silicon wafers, driving a 5%-8% increase in global tungsten demand, while accelerating the construction of overseas production bases to avoid trade risks.
China Copper achieved large-scale production of high-purity selenium and tellurium through technological innovation, breaking foreign technology monopolies and transforming industrial waste into strategic resources. These practices show that China is transitioning from a "resource exporter" to a "technology exporter."
International reactions vary. According to data from Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, more than 60% of molybdenum powder imported by Japan in 2024 came from China, and the regulatory measures may affect its automotive and machinery manufacturing industries.
Although the United States has invested tens of billions of dollars to rebuild domestic capacity, the Idaho antimony mine is expected to start production in 2028, and it will be difficult to escape dependence in the short term.
More notably, China's dominant position in key mineral resources is changing global trade rules. Bloomberg pointed out that this "counter-sanction" has set a precedent for non-Western countries to use supply chain power.
The essence of this resource game is a strategic competition in new quality productivity among major powers. When the United States attempts to delay China's development through technological blockades, China is using resource control as a lever to reshape the global industrial chain structure.
From rare earths to minor metals, this "using the enemy's spear against the enemy" strategy not only demonstrates a firm determination to protect national interests but also tests the inclusiveness of the global economic governance system.
In the future, how to find a balance between ensuring national security and maintaining free trade will be a common challenge for the international community.
What do you think this resource game will mean for the global technology competition landscape? What other strategic spaces does China have to expand in this confrontation? Please share your insights in the comments section.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1842525909921994/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.