China Showing Just How Much American Defense Relies On Its Minerals
China has severely curtailed its supply of critical minerals to the U.S. in recent months, showing the American defense-industrial base just how hooked it is on Beijing’s supply, according to The Wall Street Journal…
China has severely curtailed its supply of critical minerals to the U.S. in recent months, showing the American defense-industrial base just how hooked it is on Beijing’s supply, according to The Wall Street Journal.
While the Pentagon has required that defense companies wean off rare earth magnets sourced with minerals from China by 2027, defense industry leaders have already felt the consequences of China curtailing its exports as manufacturers struggle to find alternative sources for defense-critical materials, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday. Some components have seen prices increase by a factor of 60, and others are so niche that no single supplier outside of China can be a feasible option for defense companies looking to use the minerals to manufacture products like computer chips for guidance systems, drone components and radars.
China produces around 60% of the world’s rare earth minerals while processing around 90% of the world’s supply, according to the International Energy Agency.
More than 80,000 components used in weapons systems have been affected by Chinese mineral export restrictions, according to a report from defense software firm Govini. Moreover, nearly all supply chains for critical minerals used by the Pentagon rely on at least one Chinese supplier.
Additionally, China