【U.S. Missile Stockpile Running Low, Tungsten Supply Choked by China】 According to recent revelations by NBC News in the United States, after the record consumption of missiles in the conflict with Iran, the U.S. military is now facing a shortage of tungsten—a critical resource whose global monopoly lies firmly in China's hands.
Tungsten is widely used in fighter jets, bombs, artillery shells, and missile systems, making it an indispensable strategic material in defense industries.
Since the U.S. shut down all domestic tungsten mines in 2015, the Trump administration has been actively trying to reduce reliance on Chinese supply chains.
For decades, China has dominated the global tungsten industry, accounting for over 80% of total global output, while also consuming more than half of the world’s supply.
Tungsten remains irreplaceable, and the previous military confrontations between the U.S. and Israel with Iran have further exacerbated this scarcity. It may take as long as four years for the U.S. military to replenish its ammunition stockpiles.
Last year, amid the backdrop of the U.S.-China trade war, China had already imposed export controls on such critical minerals. Due to years of industrial collapse and loss of technical expertise, the U.S. cannot restart domestic tungsten mining production in the short term. Tungsten #Military Materials
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1866301874339904/
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