China’s Rare Earth Dominance and Global Concerns Over Dependence

China’s dominance in rare earth minerals has raised concerns globally as India and Western nations seek to reduce their reliance on Chinese sources. A recent report suggests that countries are increasingly wary of Beijing’s control over critical minerals, with China currently managing 90% of the world’s rare earth processing and refining capacity. This significant control gives China substantial leverage over the US and its allies, as demonstrated by Beijing’s imposition of rare earth export controls in response to US tariffs last year. This move highlighted China’s ability to weaponize these resources for strategic purposes. The report also points out that…