五角大楼直接插手稀土生产，美国唯一一家稀土企业剥离中国控制？

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. Department of Defense's $400 million investment in MP Materials aims to strengthen its rare earth supply chain in response to China's export restrictions, but significant challenges remain in achieving true independence from Chinese processing capabilities [1][3][7][25]. Group 1: Investment and Strategic Moves - The U.S. government has acquired a 15% stake in MP Materials, making it the largest shareholder, signaling a direct confrontation with China over rare earth supply chains [1][7]. - The investment is framed as a national security measure, driven by concerns over potential supply disruptions in critical sectors like automotive and defense [3][4][7]. Group 2: Challenges in Supply Chain - The U.S. faces a significant gap in processing capabilities, as most rare earth materials extracted domestically are still sent to China for refinement due to high domestic separation costs and outdated technology [10][11][19]. - MP Materials' Mountain Pass mine produces over 15% of global rare earth concentrate, but the U.S. lacks the necessary infrastructure to process these materials independently [10][11]. Group 3: Long-term Outlook - Experts estimate that the U.S. would need to invest at least $10 billion and endure a decade of development to establish a fully functional rare earth supply chain [13][25]. - The new processing facilities being constructed by MP Materials are not expected to be operational until 2028, leaving the U.S. reliant on Chinese processing in the interim [19][25]. Group 4: Technological and Ecological Considerations - The U.S. is not only facing a financial challenge but also a technological one, as it lacks the advanced extraction and processing techniques that China has developed over decades [8][23][27]. - China's dominance in the rare earth market is bolstered by its technological advancements and established recycling systems, which could undermine U.S. efforts to become self-sufficient [23][25].