ZGXT(SZ:000831) Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-07-09 06:04Group 1 - The core issue revolves around the geopolitical struggle for rare earth resources, with the US, Japan, India, and Australia forming an alliance to counter China's dominance through the "Critical Minerals Initiative" [1][2] - The alliance's strategy involves Japan providing rare earth patent technology, Australia supplying high-quality rare earth minerals, India managing hazardous waste, and the US benefiting from this division of labor to break China's monopoly [2][4] - China's response includes the implementation of a new Mineral Resources Law that categorizes rare earths as strategic minerals and introduces export controls on certain rare earth elements, leveraging its significant global market share [4][5] Group 2 - The alliance faces critical weaknesses, including reliance on outdated technology, an imbalance in raw material availability, and China's control over essential equipment for rare earth processing, which could cripple the alliance if export controls are enacted [5][7] - The strategic implications extend beyond economics, as the US defense industry heavily relies on Chinese rare earths for military applications, highlighting the risks associated with supply chain vulnerabilities [7][9] - Experts predict that the alliance will struggle to achieve significant progress in the short term due to technological barriers and China's ongoing advancements in the rare earth industry, indicating a prolonged and escalating resource conflict [9]