Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesperson He Yadong at a regular press conference in Beijing Photo: Yin Yeping/GT

A spokesperson of China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Thursday that measures including establishing a joint enforcement coordination center for export control of dual-use items, promptly publicizing typical enforcement and judicial cases, and adding illegal foreign entities to export control lists, will be rolled out to combat the smuggling and illegal export of strategic minerals.

MOFCOM spokesperson He Yadong made the remarks in response to a media question regarding a recent meeting held by the Office of the National Export Control Coordination Mechanism and relevant competent authorities on July 19 in Nanning, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, aiming to advance the special operation to combat the smuggling and illegal export of strategic minerals. 

In addition to these measures, the meeting also proposed issuing guidelines for compliant exports of strategic minerals and guiding export companies to conduct thorough due diligence to strictly prevent related minerals from being used by military end-users or for military purposes, according to He. 

On May 9, responsible authorities held a special operation on-site meeting in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province, to combat the smuggling and export of strategic minerals. The July meeting served as an interim summary of the progress and achievements of the special operation, as well as a redeployment and further advancement.

He stated that over the past two months, various departments have strengthened coordination, adopting a zero-tolerance stance and cracking down heavily on the smuggling and illegal export of strategic minerals. A number of illegal export cases have been investigated, and several smuggling suspects have been apprehended, creating significant momentum and deterrence.

He further explained that during the special operation, it was discovered that a small number of unscrupulous individuals had attempted to evade supervision through various means, leading to a rising risk of illegal outflows of related technologies. The situation remains complex and severe. To address this, the meeting emphasized the need to maintain relentless determination in a bid to deepen and advance the special operation, sustain a high-pressure stance on strict investigation and enforcement, and resolutely combat the smuggling and illegal export of strategic minerals to safeguard national security and interests.

Global Times