From Newsgroup: alt.security
https://www.politico.eu/article/precious-rare-earth-metals-belong-to-the-state-china-declares/
The Chinese government has introduced a slew of new measures
designed to tighten its grip on lucrative natural resources
used in everything from electric cars to wind turbines.
In a list released by the country's State Council on Saturday,
Beijing declared that rare earth metals are the property of
the state and warned "no organization or person may encroach
on or destroy rare-earth resources."
From Oct. 1, when the rules come into force, the government
will operate a rare earth traceability database to ensure
it can control the extraction, use and export of the metals.
China currently produces around 60 percent of the world's
rare earth metals, and is the origin of around 90 percent
of refined rare earths on the market.
. . .
These elements ARE extremely valuable and getting
more so. They DO have high value as political/trade
leverage. They are the heart of many high-efficiency
industrial catalysts, cutting-edge electronics and,
sorry Greenies, required for making EV motors.
Smaller reserves of various rare earths have been found
elsewhere, some even in the USA - but bet the Greenies
will block mining even as they demand more EVs.
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