Power over the earth: The impact of China using rare earths to hit back at US

A road on the outskirts of Baotou city in Inner Mongolia, north-west China, where dozens of factories processing rare earths, iron and coal operate. China produced 120,000 tonnes of rare earth metals last year. Protesters in Kuala Lumpur last month u
A road on the outskirts of Baotou city in Inner Mongolia, north-west China, where dozens of factories processing rare earths, iron and coal operate. China produced 120,000 tonnes of rare earth metals last year. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
A road on the outskirts of Baotou city in Inner Mongolia, north-west China, where dozens of factories processing rare earths, iron and coal operate. China produced 120,000 tonnes of rare earth metals last year. Protesters in Kuala Lumpur last month u
Protesters in Kuala Lumpur last month urging the Malaysian government to suspend a rare earth plant in the country operated by Australia's Lynas Corp. Residents want Lynas to remove years of accumulated waste. PHOTO: REUTERS
Updated
May 31, 2019, 02:45 PM
Published
May 30, 2019, 05:00 AM
New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

With trade tensions mounting between China and the United States, Beijing will be hunting for Washington's Achilles' heel.

It may come in the form of rare earths - key metals needed in the manufacture of products ranging from smartphones and cameras to wind turbines and military gear.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

ST One Digital

 $9.90/month

No contract

ST app access on 1 mobile device

Subscribe now

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on May 30, 2019, with the headline Power over the earth: The impact of China using rare earths to hit back at US. Subscribe

Available for
iPhones and iPads
Available in
Google Play

MCI (P) 066/10/2023. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No. 202120748H. Copyright © 2024 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.

Back to the top