欧媒：欧盟现在很焦虑，不光怕中国一个，更怕美国变成下一个中国

Core Viewpoint - The European Union (EU) is attempting to reduce its reliance on Eastern countries for critical raw materials, particularly rare earth elements, to ensure supply chain security [1][4]. Group 1: EU's Strategic Initiatives - The EU has launched the "ResourceEU" plan, committing €3 billion (approximately 24.7 billion RMB) to key raw materials needed for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and semiconductors over the next year [2]. - The intention behind this investment is to diversify Europe's supply chain through recycling, joint procurement, and strategic reserves, aiming to regain some control over rare earth materials [4]. Group 2: Challenges and Risks - The acquisition of Less Common Metals (LCM) by USA Rare Earth signifies a critical blow to Europe's rare earth industry, as LCM is one of the few companies in Europe capable of converting rare earth oxides into metals and alloys [5][8]. - The loss of LCM means that Europe may not be able to produce the magnets required for electric vehicles, despite having access to raw materials [7][11]. - The current situation indicates that while Europe seeks to establish its own supply chain, it is losing existing capabilities to American companies, which could lead to a dependency shift from China to the U.S. [11][12]. Group 3: Geopolitical Implications - The U.S. is leveraging its capital strength and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to acquire critical mineral assets globally, which poses a threat to Europe's industrial base [13][15]. - There is a growing realization that the EU's efforts to secure raw materials may inadvertently lead to a form of dependency on the U.S., rather than achieving true autonomy [12][20]. - The EU's current predicament reflects a struggle between wanting to reduce reliance on China while simultaneously facing the risk of becoming subordinate to U.S. interests in the critical materials sector [20][22].