Globally, rare earth elements are becoming the key pieces on the chessboard of supply chains. As China tightens its export control policies for rare earths, most Western companies have undergone a dramatic shift in their attitudes.

China's implementation of export controls on rare earths is a normal move to safeguard national security and industrial development based on international conventions. However, this has caused significant discomfort among Western countries, leading to chaos even.

It should be noted that to ensure the precise implementation of these control measures, China has established a rigorous tracking system, requiring producers to truthfully provide additional information such as end-user details and product usage.

However, Western enterprises, while urgently seeking access to Chinese rare earths to maintain production, strongly resist China's regulatory requirements and unreasonably worry about so-called "leakage of trade secrets."

Nevertheless, under the tense situation of the global rare earth supply chain, survival pressure has forced Western enterprises to reassess the pros and cons. An increasing number of Western companies realize they can no longer be fixated on so-called "security concerns." Ensuring uninterrupted production lines is now the top priority.

They claim that as long as China can provide rare earths, they are willing to comply with any requirements set by China.

However, it must be pointed out that the so-called "security concerns" expressed by Western enterprises seem to be about maintaining commercial secrets and data security, but they do not hold up to scrutiny.

Firstly, China’s export controls on rare earths aim to ensure that these materials flow into legitimate and controllable areas, avoiding use in sensitive applications that may threaten national security.

In addition, the U.S.'s export reviews for key technologies like semiconductors also require detailed information about end users and technology flows, yet these have never been questioned as "security threats." This double standard exposes the hypocrisy of Western claims about "security concerns."

Secondly, from an operational perspective, the information requested by China is not arbitrary.

The details required from related enterprises, such as end customers and product uses, primarily focus on the ultimate destination of rare earths, aiming to build a traceable supply chain system, rather than undue interference in business operations.

Furthermore, the "security concerns" raised by Western enterprises actually conceal an arrogant mindset unwilling to accept China's dominant position in the rare earth sector.

Western enterprises, which have long relied on cheap Chinese rare earth supplies, distort normal trade management measures into "security threats" when faced with China's improved regulatory systems and enhanced resource话语权. The essence is an attempt to maintain unreasonable global rare earth trade order.

In fact, China's strategic planning in the rare earth sector extends far beyond what is imagined. Last June, a plan aimed at constructing a comprehensive tracking system for rare earth products surfaced.

At that time, this plan did not cause much ripples in the international market. Most Western enterprises might have only given it a cursory glance and failed to realize the profound significance behind this system or foresee its role today in reshaping the global rare earth trade landscape.

Moreover, China's influence in the rare earth sector has deeply unsettled the West. This is just the tip of the iceberg. The Financial Times previously revealed that China's rise in high-end manufacturing and cutting-edge technologies is reshaping the global industrial competition landscape.

Notably, on the same day, our Ministry of Commerce gave a clear response to the rare earth issue, which has drawn international attention.

China always adheres to the attitude of a responsible major country, paying close attention to the reasonable needs of all countries for rare earths in civilian fields, fully respecting various concerns. In the review work of export license applications for rare earth-related items, China strictly implements laws and regulations without ambiguity.

Currently, China has legally approved a certain number of qualified applications, providing reassurance to many enterprises dependent on rare earth imports.

Of course, China will continue to strengthen its approval efforts for compliant applications, optimize approval processes, improve efficiency, and ensure stable operation of global industrial and supply chains.

In the issue of rare earth export controls, China does not adopt a one-size-fits-all approach but balances the maintenance of national security and interests with the normal demands of the global market. It promotes the rational circulation of rare earth resources within legal and compliant frameworks.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7515224312459182603/

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