Amid China's rare earth metals blockade, Indian electronics companies to figure out 'alternatives,' says Vaishnaw

India's electronics manufacturing industry will be able to figure out "alternatives" for sourcing rare earth metals and magnets from China, Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said. Beijing enjoys a virtual monopoly in the sector and recently suspended exports of some of them. These elements, such as gallium, germanium, and antimony are used in most things, from smartphones to missiles. "Whatever we have had discussions with the industry so far, the industry feels that they will be able to figure out alternatives to this, because the entire world has been preparing for diversifying value chains since Covid struck," Vaishnaw told reporters…