西方求稀土购遭拒！美军工解困无望，中国稀土三重防线令白宫绝望

Core Insights - The article highlights the significant challenges faced by Western countries in the rare earth industry, particularly due to China's dominance in the supply chain and technology [3][5][21] Group 1: Industry Overview - The Mountain Pass rare earth mine in California, once the largest in the world, is now largely abandoned, illustrating the decline of the industry in the West [1] - China currently controls 70% of global rare earth mining and 95% of refining capacity, giving it substantial leverage in the market [6] - The U.S. Department of Defense warns that if China halts rare earth supplies, existing military production lines can only operate for 18 months [4] Group 2: Technological and Talent Barriers - Western countries face a significant technology gap, with U.S. operations achieving only 60% purity in rare earth separation compared to China's 99.99% [9] - China has established a comprehensive talent development system for rare earth engineering, producing thousands of specialists annually, while the U.S. has a persistent talent shortage of over 5,000 [12] Group 3: Smuggling and Countermeasures - Smuggling has emerged as a risky but tempting option for Western countries to bypass Chinese controls, with significant quantities of rare earths being illegally imported [13] - China has intensified its crackdown on smuggling, implementing new laws and blockchain technology to monitor rare earth transactions [19] Group 4: Western Independence Efforts - Despite significant investments, such as the U.S. Energy Department's $1 billion initiative, domestic production remains insufficient to meet demand [15] - The concept of "rare earth independence" in the West is challenged by the reality that many operations still rely on Chinese technology for processing [15] Group 5: Strategic Implications - The ongoing rare earth conflict is reshaping global resource governance, with China establishing a "rules-making power" in the industry [21] - The anticipated production from Tanzania's Ngualla mine could control 18% of global heavy rare earth supply, indicating a shift in the supply chain dynamics [21]