Is China Squeezing The Market Of Rare Earths, Minerals That Are Essential For The Military?

A neodymium magnet, commonly used in motors, loudspeakers and other appliances. Neodymium is a rare earth element. ALAMY

China Defends Control of Rare Earth Exports as Move to Protect Environment -- Bloomberg

China defended its controls on exports of rare earth after Japanese officials raised concerns about supplies of the raw materials used in the manufacture of products from cell phones to radar.

Restrictions on the rare earth industry will help protect the environment, the state-run Xinhua News Agency cited Chen Deming, China’s commerce minister, as saying yesterday at a media briefing during China-Japan economic talks in Beijing.

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My Comment: Many parts of China are the most polluted in he world .... and exporting rare earths has nothing to do with it. This is all about controlling vital strategic minerals that many in the defense industry regard as indispensable in electronics and high tech.

On a side note, limiting exports of strategic rare earths by China is nothing new .... we covered this story at the beginning of this year.