File Photo of a rare-earth mine in Southwest China's Yunnan Province Photo: VCG

The Western media's malicious hype over China's possible export control on rare earths while cutting reliance on China for the strategic materials exposes the hypocrisy and duplicity of US foreign policy, whereas China will take all necessary measures to maintain its national security and interests amid mounting US-led Western crackdown, an expert said on Friday.

After China announced export restrictions on industrial products and materials containing gallium and germanium recently, some Western politicians have started a new round of hyping up China curbing exports of rare earths.

Goldman Sachs said on Thursday that the West may need more than $25 billion in investments to match China's supply of rare earths, as export curbs by Beijing on minor metals spark fears that rare earths could be next, according to Reuters.

"It's a common international practice for countries to protect their rare and strategic resources, with countries including the US, the EU and Japan having various export controls in place," Wu Chenhui, an independent industry analyst who closely follows the rare-earth industry, told the Global Times on Friday.

The West sensationalizes China's move in a bid to justify the US-led economic "decoupling" from China and cut China from the global industrial and supply chains, Wu said. He said the US' real purpose is to crack down the export of products and materials that China has advantages and coerce its allies to contain China's technological rise.

It's not the first time that Western countries have attempted to cut rare-earth supplies with China. In October 2022, Australia's resources minister said that while Western countries are unlikely to end their reliance on China for critical minerals including rare earths anytime soon, Australia and the US will still work together to boost investment in these minerals in an attempt to offer alternatives.

Chinese Foreign Ministry commented then that countries with critical mineral resources need to play a positive role in keeping relevant industrial and supply chains safe, secure and stable. Countries need to jointly step up to their due responsibilities in the global supply of minerals, and ensure the normal functioning of relevant trade and economic cooperation.

In 2022, China accounted for 70 percent of the world's mine production of rare earths, followed by the US, Australia, Myanmar and Thailand, according to the US Geological Survey.

Ministry of Commerce spokesperson Shu Jueting told a press conference on Thursday that China's export control on industrial products and materials containing gallium and germanium does not target any specific country, and the Chinese side had informed the EU and the US prior to the announcement.

"Faced with intensified US-led Western crackdown, China will take all necessary measures to protect its own national security and interests," Wu said.

Global Times