中国正在扼制对西方国防公司至关重要的矿产供应。

 

 

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

 

 

1. 

China Is Restricting Critical Mineral Exports

 

 

China—controlling over 90% of global rare earth production—is tightening export controls on critical minerals and heavy rare earths that are vital for advanced defense technologies  .

Importantly, these restrictions are especially stringent when the end use is military—that includes materials like samarium, antimony, germanium, and others used in jet-fighter magnets, infrared sensors, and munitions  .

 

 

2. 

Consequences for Western Defense Firms

 

 

• Defense contractors have reported production delays, as they scramble to source alternatives globally  .
• Prices for certain minerals have soared—samarium costs surged up to 60× above normal price, while others rose 5×, driven by the supply disruption  .
• Companies like ePropelled (a U.S.-based drone motor manufacturer) faced delivery delays of 1–2 months after refusing Chinese demands to disclose sensitive tech and production details  .

 

 

 

3. 

Supply Chain Vulnerabilities on Display

 

 

• Many U.S. military systems rely on tens of thousands of parts made with these restricted materials, making production chains fragile in the face of export controls  .
• Even routine shipments like Australian antimony routed through China have been detained or rerouted, showing how supply routes can be weaponized through bureaucratic means  .

 

 

 

4. 

U.S. Response & Domestic Strategies

 

 

• The U.S. Department of Defense has invested $400M in MP Materials, aiming to build domestic rare-earth magnet production capacity  .
• The Pentagon has also funded projects to support materials like germanium and antimony and is working to diversify suppliers through allied partners  .
• However, full-scale alternative production likely won’t be available until late 2025 or beyond, meaning defense firms remain vulnerable in the near term  .

 

 

 

 

 

Why It Matters

 

 

• National Security Risk: China’s mineral export policies pose a direct threat to Western defense manufacturing, potentially impacting F-35 jets, missiles, drones, and other systems  .
• Strategic Leverage: By framing export restrictions as regulatory controls, China can influence defense readiness while maintaining plausible deniability  .
• Long-Term Challenges: Building a resilient, diversified supply chain outside China requires sustained investment and policy support, and may take years  .

 

 

 

 

 

In Summary:

 

 

• China is actively choking off exports of rare earths and other critical minerals used in Western defense systems.
• The result is heightened costs, production delays, and increased operational risk for defense suppliers.
• In response, the U.S. is ramping up domestic production and supply chain diversification—but solutions are not immediate.

 

China Is Choking Supply of Critical Minerals to Western Defense Companies

https://www.wsj.com/world/asia/china-western-defense-industry-critical-minerals-3971ec51?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=ASWzDAixaFHZl-ndx7DrgTdP0pe6Uw5ZXKgofsNMdDkfhW0-PQW-QsbUPEZ5KbvkuIc%3D&gaa_ts=6890af4b&gaa_sig=jboFH6QssUugElP3ekYkgu6c3oAMzr5U1M7wmO5Wpzo7qq7ef1E6GG6-EsYznZZgc8pTGbpomWZqiSl1Upt2Mg%3D%3D