China and Rare Earths: An Annotated Bibliography (Part-I)

Editorial, “How to Escape China’s Rare-Earth Chokehold,” Wall Street Journal, 22 October 2025
The piece states its agreement on the fact that China’s weaponisation of the rare earth supply chain needs two things: First, a technological breakthrough and second, an allied coordinated response by like-minded states. The difference in opinion arises when Trump’s actions on tariffs are considered. While most see this as a trigger and an obstacle to access rare earths, the op-ed considers it a tool. Stating that this will provide targeted relief to and erect barriers to Chinese exports in the US. Additionally, this presents an opportunity to build a US-led coalition to counter Beijing’s dominance in the rare earths sector.

Hannan Hussain, “China's rare-earth curbs should spur US to forge new supply chains,” Nikkie Asia, 05 November 2025
Hussain suggests that it is easier to fight China’s dominance in rare earths, but the approach need not be offensive but the US should focus on building allies. He states that the US does not need to invest heavily in fighting Chinese dominance but to change their energy policy, expanding investment agreements with international partners, such as Canada's Trilogy Metals, and plugging gaps in the global rare-earth supply chain, an area that many Chinese rare-earth exporters are not focused on. Hussain notes, “By incorporating this integrated supply chain approach into the broader Trump administration policy of increased government investment in domestic mining companies, the U.S. could create several strategic advantages.”

Vivek Katju, “Rare earths: Deng Xiaoping's vision, China’s advantage, and India’s race against time,” The Federal, 25 October 2025
Katju states that China’s rise in rare earths started with their visionary leader Deng Xiaoping. Who said that while the Middle East had oil, they had rare earths, and during his tenure and till his demise, he was a strong proponent of the same. Katju states that he had a remarkable insight into how significant rare earths and critical minerals would become in the future. China currently has the world’s largest deposit of rare earths, estimated at 44 million tons. Katju also notes that the US has been caught napping and was utterly shocked by China’s provocation. Katju believes that “The problem is that it will take, according to some analysts, almost 10 years before the US can really catch up —if at all — with China in this field. This is the time it takes to develop mines and refining, and product-making facilities.” Therefore, China’s chokehold on its rare earth will remain.

George Magnus, “Is China’s mercantilism cracking up?,” Engelsberg Idea, 03 September 2025
Magnus talks about how China is pivoting towards mercantilism, and that its USD 20 trillion economy is the outcome of that. Mangus notes that China has always believed that, while it could exploit some features that come with more open markets, international coordination. Its principal interests and focus should be on the mercantilist harnessing of trade and trade policy – the other side of the coin of industrial policy –to strengthen its military, industrial, financial, and technological power. China’s strong interest in developing economic, commercial and financial networks is one such example.

Adrienne Murray, “The story behind the scramble for Greenland's rare earths,” BBC, 05 November 2025
Murray talks about how China’s rise in the rare earth sector and supply has led to countries, especially the US and EU, scrambling for Greenland. Rare earth elements are not actually rare, but this group of 17 metals, with exotic-sounding names like terbium and neodymium, are vital for many everyday technologies. Murray notes that Greenland’s Arctic location and the potential of having mineral deposits have caught the White House’s attention. This led to the US President Donald Trump calling for the acquisition of Danish territory for national security reasons.

Apoorba Banerjee, “Breaking Beijing’s rare earths advantage,” East Asia Forum, 28 October 2025
Banerjee talks about how China’s advantage is not new and that its mechanisms have evolved over time. Beijing has consolidated state champions, tightened export quotas and in April 2025, mandated special licences for selected rare earths and magnets used in defence, energy and automotive supply chains. Banerjee notes that China’s first 2025 quota for mining and smelting was issued without public announcement, showcasing the tight administrative control, Chinese government has on both production but also paperwork.