稀土储量最多的国家！中国管制稀土，美国能找到替代国吗？

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the critical role of rare earth elements in modern military technology, particularly the F-35 fighter jet, and discusses the historical context of the U.S. reliance on China for these resources, which has led to a significant strategic disadvantage for the U.S. [1][10] Group 1: Historical Context - In 1949, the U.S. was a leader in both military technology and rare earth resources, with the Mountain Pass mine supplying 90% of the global rare earth market [1] - By the 1980s, due to intense competition and price wars among Chinese rare earth producers, U.S. companies found it cheaper to import rare earths from China rather than produce them domestically [6][8] - The Mountain Pass mine was closed in 2002 as U.S. companies shifted to relying on cheaper Chinese supplies, underestimating the long-term implications of this dependency [8] Group 2: Technological Developments - Professor Xu Guangxian from Peking University developed a cascade extraction technology in 1974, significantly improving the efficiency of rare earth extraction [3] - Despite having vast rare earth resources, China initially lacked the technology to refine them, leading to a situation where it sold raw materials at low prices to the U.S. and Japan, who then sold refined products back at high margins [4] Group 3: Current Situation - As of the 21st century, China controls 90% of the heavy rare earth production capacity, which is crucial for high-tech applications, while the U.S. has virtually no capacity in this area [10] - The U.S. is now seeking alternative sources for rare earths, looking at Mongolia, Vietnam, and Australia, but these options present logistical and processing challenges that do not resolve the underlying dependency on China [10] - The article concludes that the U.S. faces significant barriers in re-establishing its rare earth supply chain, including a lack of skilled labor and technological expertise, making it difficult to regain self-sufficiency [10]