得不到稀土，31国计划对中国出招？还没开始，就被自己人泼了冷水

Core Viewpoint - The recent discussions among 31 countries regarding potential strong measures against China's rare earths highlight a deeper geopolitical struggle over future technology, industrial security, and international discourse power, rather than mere trade friction [1] Industry Insights - Rare earths, despite their name suggesting scarcity, are not particularly rare in the Earth's crust. The challenge lies in economically and environmentally extracting and purifying them for high-tech applications. They are essential for various modern technologies, including smartphones, electric vehicles, military aircraft, and medical devices [3] - Over the past few decades, China has dominated the global rare earth supply chain due to its complete industrial chain and technological breakthroughs, giving it significant influence in this sector. As some countries attempt to block China's access to high-end technology, rare earths have become a focal point [5][7] Company Dynamics - China's recent actions against ASML, a semiconductor company, demonstrate its willingness to impose direct and precise countermeasures against perceived unfair treatment. By banning ASML from sourcing chips in China, the company faced production halts, impacting major European automotive clients like Volkswagen and BMW [7] - The internal divisions among the 31 countries seeking to unite against China reveal the complexities of their economic interests. Many European companies have deep ties to the Chinese market, making a forced decoupling economically painful [10] Strategic Developments - China is not merely focused on controlling resources for profit but is integrating rare earths into its broader national development strategy. This includes advancing the high-quality development of the rare earth industry, moving towards high-value products, and enhancing technological research [11] - The current rare earth competition reflects a significant shift in international rules and power dynamics. China's decisive countermeasures signal its commitment to protecting its core interests, while the fragmentation within the Western alliance indicates that unilateralism and bullying tactics are losing support [13]