美国被卡脖子疼到叫娘，稀土专家崩溃：矿挖了还得送东大加工，这叫啥事儿？！

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the irony of the United States relying on China for the processing of rare earth minerals, despite having significant mining capabilities. This situation reflects a broader issue of dependency and the challenges the U.S. faces in rebuilding its own processing capabilities [1][3][12]. Group 1: U.S. Rare Earth Mining and Processing - The U.S. has the second-largest rare earth reserves globally but lacks processing capabilities, leading to a reliance on China for refining [3][12]. - Despite mining rare earths domestically, the U.S. must transport the extracted minerals to China for processing, which increases costs and delays [8][12]. - The U.S. experts are calling for "rare earth independence," but over 80% of the rare earth products needed annually are still imported from China [12]. Group 2: China's Dominance in Rare Earth Processing - China controls over 90% of the global rare earth processing capacity, a position it has built since the 1990s by developing a complete industrial chain from mining to deep processing [5][7]. - The U.S. previously underestimated China's capabilities, mocking its focus on mining, but now finds itself in a position where it must rely on Chinese processing for critical technologies [5][7]. - China's comprehensive rare earth industry system includes everything from extraction to end-use applications, making it nearly impossible for the U.S. to bypass China in the short term [10][12]. Group 3: Challenges for U.S. Rare Earth Processing - Rebuilding rare earth processing capabilities in the U.S. will take at least a decade due to the need for significant technical expertise and talent [10]. - Environmental regulations and costs in the U.S. pose additional challenges to developing a domestic processing industry [10]. - The current situation serves as a lesson in globalization, illustrating the interconnectedness of nations and the complexities of supply chains [12].