China Restricts Exports of Critical Materials to Western Military Industries
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News agency, the Wall Street Journal reported that China has limited the flow of essential minerals to military firms in Western nations. This move has delayed weapons manufacturing and forced companies worldwide to search for mineral deposits needed to produce everything from bullets to fighter jets.
The report states that earlier this year, amid rising trade tensions between the US and China, Beijing tightened restrictions on exports of rare earth elements.
Although Beijing allowed shipments to resume following an agreement with the Trump governance in June, it remains focused on restricting strategic minerals crucial for military use. China supplies about 90 percent of the world’s rare earth elements and dominates production of many other critical minerals.
The Wall Street Journal added that China’s limiting measures have compelled manufacturers to seek raw material reserves globally to maintain their output.
