稀土价格暴涨60倍，美国防务公司承认：每天都在担心库存，五角大楼抱怨：还怎么赢中国？

Group 1 - The rising importance of rare earth elements (REEs) in international politics and economics is highlighted, with a significant price surge of 60 times causing panic among U.S. defense companies and the Pentagon [1][3] - China has implemented export controls on key minerals, including gallium and germanium, starting in 2023, and plans to expand these controls to 25 critical rare metals by 2025, impacting U.S. military supply chains [1][3][5] - The U.S. defense industry is heavily reliant on Chinese-controlled rare earth minerals, with over 80,000 components in military weapon systems requiring these materials, making it difficult for the U.S. to establish alternative supply chains [3][5] Group 2 - China's export controls are not blanket measures; they allow for some exports under strict conditions, particularly prohibiting military use, which complicates U.S. efforts to bypass these regulations [5][6] - The U.S. has attempted to circumvent these controls through transshipment from intermediaries in countries like Thailand and Mexico, leading to a spike in imports of antimony oxide, but this has prompted China to tighten its regulations further [5][6] - The Pentagon's response includes financial support for domestic rare earth mining and attempts to establish an independent pricing mechanism, but experts believe these efforts are insufficient against China's established dominance in the rare earth supply chain [6][8] Group 3 - The crisis has exposed vulnerabilities in the U.S. defense industrial base, with critical production processes, such as those for the F-35 fighter jet, facing delays due to material shortages [8] - China's strategic control over rare earth resources has shifted the balance of power, demonstrating that industrial strength and supply chain security are becoming new strategic priorities in global competition [8] - The article suggests that the U.S. must move towards pragmatic cooperation with China rather than confrontation to resolve the crisis in critical minerals, as continued reliance on a zero-sum approach may further jeopardize U.S. military advantages and global influence [8]