稀土！稀土！中国严管稀土动了真格，高管辞职可以，出境绝对不行

Core Viewpoint - China's recent tightening of management measures for technical personnel in the rare earth sector signifies a strategic adjustment, emphasizing the importance of technological sovereignty in the industry [1][3][13] Group 1: Policy Changes - The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has fundamentally shifted its rare earth strategy from "resource protection" to "protection of technological sovereignty" [3] - New measures include establishing a database of technical personnel, implementing cooling-off periods for sensitive positions, requiring exit reporting for sensitive personnel, and using blockchain technology for traceability of rare earth technical documents [3][4] - Export licenses have been implemented for seven heavy rare earth elements, effectively creating a "structural differentiation" in export policies, favoring certain companies while excluding others, particularly from the U.S. [4] Group 2: Industry Challenges - Despite the reopening of the Mountain Pass mine in California and capacity expansion by Lynas in Australia, both face a common challenge: a lack of technical talent [3] - The U.S. Department of Defense acknowledges its inability to achieve industrial-grade separation of heavy rare earth elements, indicating continued reliance on China's advanced purification and processing technologies [3] Group 3: Security Measures - China plans to launch a special crackdown on rare earth smuggling starting in May 2025, with over 40 smuggling cases already reported, valued at over 8 billion RMB [6] - A national directory of rare earth professionals is being established, requiring companies to report all personnel involved in core processes, with heightened scrutiny on sensitive personnel's travel [6][11] Group 4: Strategic Importance - Rare earth elements are deemed critical to China's national interests, with the current policy reflecting a strategic defense posture [13] - The experience and knowledge accumulated by technical personnel are viewed as invaluable assets, with concerns that talent loss could lead to a transfer of strategic control to the West [14]