China could deal a blow to the US defence industry by restricting exports of metals, which play an important role in the production of fighter jets
The Financial Times reports this, citing sources involved in consultations between the government and industry representatives.
According to the newspaper, the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has proposed a draft of measures to control the production and export of 17 rare earth metals. The ministry’s website stresses that rare earth metals are a non-renewable and therefore strategically important resource.
“US arms manufacturers could be among the first companies to be subjected to export restrictions”, – states Zhang Rui – an analyst at Beijing-based consultancy Antaike
It is worth noting that many nations are now dependent on China to produce a number of rare earth elements needed in the military industry. According to China Central News, once processed, rare earth metals can be used in metallurgy, petrochemicals, glass ceramics and in advanced technological fields such as computers, medicine, optoelectronics and electric vehicles, as well as aerospace technology. Rare earth metals could become China’s strategic trump card.
According to the US Congressional Research Group, one US F-35 fighter jet uses 417 kg of rare earth metals. And China accounts for about 80% of China’s supply of these metals.