中国一招出手，欧洲慌了！欧盟紧急开会：已准备核武级制裁

Core Viewpoint - China's recent regulation on rare earth exports has triggered significant concern in Europe, highlighting the continent's dependency on Chinese rare earth elements for various critical technologies and industries [1][3]. Group 1: European Concerns - Rare earth elements are essential for the production of electric vehicles, wind turbines, and advanced military technology, making them vital for Europe's future [3]. - China processes over 80% of the world's rare earths, meaning that even if raw materials are sourced from other countries, they must be refined in China [3]. - The new export regulation requires any product containing Chinese rare earth elements to obtain a permit, raising fears in Europe about potential production halts [1][3]. Group 2: EU's Response - French President Macron labeled China's actions as "economic coercion" and proposed activating the EU's "Anti-Coercion Instrument," which could impose tariffs on Chinese goods and restrict Chinese companies from participating in EU government contracts [5]. - Despite the threats, the Anti-Coercion Instrument has never been used since its introduction in 2023, indicating the potential for mutual harm in such actions [5][7]. Group 3: China's Position - China's Ministry of Commerce stated that the new regulations are part of a lawful export control system aimed at enhancing global supply chain security, not an attempt to target any specific country [9]. - China emphasized that it would expedite approval for export applications from European companies to minimize disruption to normal business operations [9]. Group 4: Future Considerations for Europe - The underlying issue for Europe is its heavy reliance on China for rare earth processing, despite claims of seeking supply chain diversification [9]. - Europe lacks its own rare earth processing facilities and recycling systems, which has led to vulnerability when faced with China's regulatory changes [9]. - Instead of focusing on sanctions against China, Europe should consider developing its own mining and processing capabilities, as well as improving recycling efforts for rare earth materials [9][11].