对抗中国？有人回过味儿了：为啥是澳大利亚出钱，更何况还干不过…

Core Points - The United States and Australia signed an $8.5 billion critical minerals agreement aimed at countering China's dominance in the rare earth and critical minerals supply chain [1][4] - The agreement includes a commitment from both governments to invest $1 billion each over the next six months for mining and processing, along with setting a price floor for critical minerals [4] - Analysts express skepticism about Australia's ability to compete with China's established rare earth industry due to high energy and labor costs, which are nearly five times higher than in Asia [1][5] Group 1 - The agreement is seen as a strategic move by the U.S. to build an alternative supply chain for rare earths and critical minerals, raising questions about the use of Australian taxpayer money to address issues faced by other countries [1][2] - Following the agreement, stock prices of some Australian mining companies surged, but smaller firms still struggle to secure financing due to investor concerns about competition with China's robust rare earth sector [2][5] - Experts highlight that while Australia has significant rare earth reserves, its production infrastructure is underdeveloped, making processing expensive and talent less available compared to China [5][6] Group 2 - Geopolitical analysts warn that China could retaliate against Australia, potentially impacting trade relations, as China is Australia's largest trading partner, accounting for nearly one-third of its exports [7] - The pricing of critical minerals is identified as a crucial issue, with concerns that China will not allow the U.S. and Australia to disrupt its current market position [8] - The timeline for establishing a secure and independent supply chain is estimated to take 10 to 20 years, with some experts suggesting that even with full support from allies, it would take at least five years to catch up to China [6][8]