稀土技术封锁：中国对全球军事工业的隐形影响

Core Insights - In April 2023, China intensified export controls on seven types of rare earth materials, initially garnering little attention, but soon causing significant pressure on companies in Japan, Germany, and the United States, particularly in the military sector due to rare earth shortages [1][8] Group 1: Rare Earth Elements - Rare earths are not just ores but a complex of 17 elements including samarium, gadolinium, and neodymium, making the separation and purification process extremely complex [3] - Despite having rich rare earth mines, Western countries lag significantly behind China in separation and purification technology, with China's extraction rate at 91% compared to 82% in the West, leading to substantial cost and technical challenges in high-end manufacturing [5] Group 2: Military Applications - High-end weapons such as the F-35 stealth fighter and nuclear submarines heavily rely on high-performance rare earth materials, with their absence affecting the functionality of radar and guidance systems [7] - The rejection of Rheinmetall's application to purchase rare earths and the stagnation of South Korea's KF-X fighter project highlight the strategic risks posed by Western reliance on Chinese rare earths [8] Group 3: Supply Chain and Strategic Risks - Western countries have long depended on China's low-cost, high-quality rare earth supply without backup plans, leading to vulnerabilities in their defense industries amid tightening supply [10] - The EU's pressure on China has been ineffective, resulting in countermeasures such as increased tariffs, while the U.S. attempts to exchange EDA software for high-end rare earths yielded only low-end materials, indicating a stark difference in the utility of various quality levels of rare earths [10] Group 4: Technological Advantage - The production processes for low-end and high-end rare earths are entirely different, with high-end separation technologies requiring long-term accumulation of expertise, which China possesses [12] - Key rare earth inventories for German wind turbine manufacturers and French nuclear power plants are nearing depletion, reflecting a neglect of technological research and supply chain security in the West, while underscoring China's core position in high-tech manufacturing [14] Group 5: Future Implications - The global recognition of technology and knowledge as more critical than mere resources has emerged, with advanced processing technologies being difficult to replicate, solidifying China's unassailable position in rare earth separation [16] - China's continued leadership in the rare earth sector will directly influence the military industrial landscape and development trajectories of various countries [16]