That’s because the US — and its and its vassals’ militaries — are dependent on China for a range of minerals which China is increasingly restricting access to in response to US economic warfare. In this case it was Washington’s latest effort to cripple China’s chip industry.
Beijing responded with what amounts to another warning shot. It banned exports to the US of the critical minerals gallium, germanium and antimony and requires stricter review of end use for graphite items. Announced on Tuesday, they strengthen enforcement of existing restrictions on critical minerals exports to the US that Beijing began rolling out last year.
According to the [AP]1, it is believed that next on the list of potential bans are tungsten, magnesium and aluminum alloys. All Beijing needs to do to really put the squeeze on the US is start moving its way up the following chart. If it gets to the 16 critical minerals under the rare hearts umbrella, Washington could be in big trouble.
And all the US proxy wars, already facing shortages from the “arsenal of democracy,” could be ground to a halt due to mineral disruptions.
Yet while Beijing continues to make advances in producing its own advanced chips — a process jumpstarted by US efforts to deprive them of such tech — the US is not making the same progress breaking China’s hold on strategic minerals.
When one combines this post with my previous
It makes me wonder who in the “Shiney City Upon the Hill” is minding the store?
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