In early October, a cargo ship departing from the port of Gwadar in Pakistan was heading for the west coast of the United States, loaded with rare earth minerals. American media have portrayed this cooperation as the first step to "breaking down China's technological wall." Trump also made a high-profile speech on social media, saying that "the United States has finally taken the initiative."
But no one expected, A new export control measure was quickly introduced, not only to include rare earth in the scope of stricter controls, but also to add the "technology use tracking" clause for the first time, directly blocking the U.S. "circumference" plan.Can this rare-earth cargo ship really help the U.S. jump out of China’s control?Why does China suddenly take it, and why does it focus on technology rather than resources?
In September, the U.S. and Pakistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Rare-Earth Cooperation, which said the U.S. would invest in supporting Pakistan’s rare-earth mining, assisting its export of rare-earth minerals, and pledge policy support for market access and tariff relief.
For a developing country with a debt of more than $130 billion, such cooperation means an increase in foreign exchange, employment and international status. The Pakistani military even specialized in arranging for the signing of a rare-earth recycling agreement with U.S. Strategic Metals by its border engineering organization.
In early October, the cargo ship set sail and crossed the Pacific Ocean with the expectations of both Pakistan and the United States. However, while the cargo ship was moving, China's Ministry of Commerce suddenly issued Announcement No. 61 on October 9, imposing comprehensive export controls on rare earth minerals, materials, and technologies。
This time, not only is the export of minerals to be approved, but even rare earth processing equipment, process technology, experimental equipment are included in the approval list.All rare earth products containing Chinese technology or equipment, regardless of where they are produced, must accept China's export license.
The lethality of this rule lies in its "extraterritorial effect". Even if rare earths are mined in Pakistan, as long as Chinese equipment or technology is used, the final product export will have to pass China's level. The United States originally intended to ensure the supply of rare earths by "bypassing China", but it turned out that no matter how it bypassed, it could not bypass China's technology and equipment.
U.S. military industry, automotive, AI chips and other industries are highly dependent on rare earth, especially high purity magnetic materials and photovoltaic components. while the world can complete the whole process of medium-heavy rare earth separation, purification, molding, only China. Pakistan has some rare-earth reserves, but its technical capabilities are extremely limited.Several sets of equipment aided by China in the early years are still the only rare earth separation devices that can be used locally.
More absurdly, the rumor of "Pakistan stealing Chinese rare-earth technology to the United States" was speculated by foreign media.From the beginning of October, several foreign media intensely speculated "Pakistan betrayed China", and even fake "Pakistan to the United States donated Chinese rare-earth technology samples", and also claimed that China's introduction of new rules was a revenge on Pakistan.
On October 13, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian clearly refuted these reports at a press conference, saying that these reports " Not ignoring the truth, but capturing the wind and even provoking between.Lin Sword pointed out that China's rare-earth control, which has nothing to do with Pakistan, is entirely to improve its own export control legal system and is done according to law.
In fact, the so-called "technology transfer" did not happen at all. Pakistan also clarified that the mineral that was passed on as rare-earth samples, in fact, is a normal gemstone mine, was purchased by staff from the market and used as a diplomatic gift.
This raw ore is a rough precious stone such as ruby and emerald, and it has nothing to do with rare earths. U.S. media, however, forcibly interpreted as "rare-earth samples", which can be seen behind the intention is unclean.In the past few years, the United States has repeatedly attempted to rebuild the local rare-earth industrial chain, including the re-launch of California's "Mountaineer mine", but with little effect.
Rare-earth ore extracted from the mines of Mount Hook still needs to be returned to China for separation and purification.The Pentagon admitted in a report that the United States is at least 15 years behind China in terms of rare-earth purification technology.
This time, China's new rules not only extended the technological blockade that began at the end of 2023, but also upgraded it.For the first time, the production of rare-earth magnets, secondary resource recycling and other aspects were included in the scope of approval, covering almost the entire industrial chain. Especially for rare earth materials required for logic chips below 14 nanometers and memory chips above 256 layers, "case-by-case approval" is implemented, directly hitting the core of high-end technological development in the United States。
In order to prevent "technology diversion," China has also added a clause that "prohibits unauthorized provision of technical support." In other words, even if China companies do not export equipment, as long as they provide technical services to foreign companies, it is still a violation of regulations. This makes the "decoupling of rare earths" in the United States almost a joke. With resources but no technology, ore and no equipment, it is obviously naive to rely on a ship to solve problems.
On October 11, Trump suddenly announced a 100% tariff on Chinese goods, and the day the U.S. stock fell more than $1.6 trillion.Within a few hours, U.S. trade representatives and vice presidents “extinguished fire,” stated “will to dialogue,” “no intention to fight a trade war,” and the public opinion winds turned overnight.
On October 13th, Trump himself changed his mouth on social media, saying that "the United States wants to help China". This sharp turn was satirized by the US media as a "TACO deal" (Trump Always Chickens Out, Trump always flinches). This rare earth storm is actually a typical public opinion war. The United States tried to divert domestic pressure and alienate China-Pakistan relations by hyping up the "China-Pakistan rift", but the result was quickly exposed by China.
China's clarification is not only accurate and powerful, but also demonstrates the pattern of a responsible big country. Neither willingly blame other countries nor change policies because of rumors, but in accordance with the law and openly transparent. Pakistan's side is also very cooperative, the first time to clarify the position, stressing that cooperation with China will not shake, and cooperation with the United States will not harm China's interests.
This shows that the strategic mutual trust between China and Pakistan has not been affected. The so-called "betrayal of hardcore brothers" is just wishful thinking of the outside world.It can be seen from this game that China no longer responds passively, but actively sets up a game. Through technical control, rule setting and legal weapons, we will firmly grasp the dominance in the rare earth industry chain.
If opponents want to "China," they must first ask themselves whether they have the ability to complete the industrial chain independently. Even if Pakistan does have rare earths, it is impossible to circumvent China's technical barriers. However, the United States wants to turn the situation around with a paper agreement and a cargo ship. It can only be said that it is too happy.
This long-haul ship, which has not yet landed, has struck the real reefs. And China, with a new paper, steadily controls the situation and turns the wind direction. In short, the United States wants to "build another oven" in the field of rare earth, not only failed, but exposed to technical shortcomings and strategic misjudgment. In the face of the reality of high-end manufacturing that can not be separated from China's rare earth, any disconnection is just a void.
Source of information:
[1] China clarifies: rare earth control has nothing to do with Pakistan-US mineral cooperation
Pakistan uses Chinese technology to donate rare earth to the United States?