China Set to Impose Mining Controls on Some Strategic Minerals
China plans to impose new mining controls on certain “strategic minerals” beginning June 15. Beijing will have authority to:
- Control total mining output
- Restrict which entities can mine
- Conduct national security reviews on foreign mining investments
China did not specify which minerals are included, meaning the list can change dynamically depending on:
- National security
- Economic importance
- Domestic demand
- Supply chain resilience
This gives China flexibility to tighten control over different minerals whenever geopolitical or industrial conditions change. China is also accelerating construction of strategic mineral reserve facilities across the country. Some mineral deposits/resources may now be reserved for a minimum of five years before reassessment. Strategic reserves protected by the state cannot be mined or accessed without central government approval. China also appears focused on preserving finite domestic resources instead of rapidly exhausting them for export markets.