中国4000吨稀土神秘消失！美国买通两国中转站，将稀土运回国

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the bold actions taken by the United States in the rare earth sector, particularly in response to China's export restrictions, highlighting a significant increase in rare earth shipments from China to the U.S. through covert means. Group 1: U.S. Actions and Strategies - The U.S. has managed to secretly transport 4,000 tons of rare earths from China in just four months, which is 35 times the total amount imported by the U.S. over the past three years [1] - In response to China's export bans, the U.S. has turned to third-party countries, notably Thailand and Mexico, to facilitate rare earth shipments [3] - The cooperation between the U.S. and these countries appears to be a strategic move, coinciding with China's export control measures [7] Group 2: Impact on Thailand and Mexico - Thailand and Mexico, previously not significant players in rare earth imports, have seen a dramatic increase in their import volumes, even reaching the third position in global rankings [5] - Both countries lack the domestic processing capacity to handle such large quantities of rare earths, indicating a violation of normal trade practices [5] - The timing of the import surge aligns closely with China's export restrictions, suggesting a deliberate collaboration with the U.S. [7] Group 3: Smuggling Allegations - Allegations have emerged that a Thai subsidiary, Thai Unipet Industries, has been involved in smuggling rare earths to the U.S., with 3,366 tons reportedly shipped in six months [9] - The involvement of 17 Chinese companies in facilitating these shipments raises concerns about the integrity of international trade practices [9] Group 4: China's Response - China has initiated strong measures against smuggling activities, including strict penalties for those involved and enhanced monitoring of rare earth exports [12] - The Chinese government is implementing a system to ensure each kilogram of rare earth has a unique identification code to control exports more effectively [12] - China's actions aim to protect its interests and maintain fair competition in the global rare earth market [14]