Core Insights - The article discusses the escalating competition between China and the United States over rare earth resources, particularly antimony and gallium, highlighting the strategic maneuvers employed by both nations to secure these critical materials [1][3][15] Group 1: U.S. Strategies - In 2025, the U.S. significantly increased imports of antimony from Thailand and Mexico, with total imports soaring to over 3,000 tons, nearly three times the amount from the previous three years, despite these countries lacking the necessary resources [1][3] - The U.S. has been using a "curve-saving" strategy to bypass China's tightening export restrictions on key resources, with Chinese antimony being disguised as products from other countries [3][7] - U.S. companies reportedly purchase around 200 kilograms of gallium monthly through Asian intermediaries, disguising it as "electronic components" or "research equipment" [3][11] Group 2: China's Countermeasures - China has implemented a blockchain traceability system for rare earth exports, assigning unique electronic identities to each batch of rare earth magnets, enhancing regulatory oversight [5][7] - The Chinese government has imposed a 150% deposit on antimony exports to Thailand and Mexico, which will not be refunded if the goods are found to be destined for the U.S. [7][9] - China has tightened its export regulations, requiring exporters to declare end-users and purposes, leading to extended procurement cycles for U.S. military companies [11][15] Group 3: Strategic Importance of Antimony and Gallium - Antimony and gallium are critical for various applications, including military technology, with 87% of the supply chain for related U.S. military applications relying on China [9][11] - The global production of gallium nitride (GaN) wafers is predominantly based in China, with the country achieving nearly 100% ultra-pure refinement, a significant advantage over other nations [11][13] Group 4: Industry Dynamics - The global rare earth processing capacity is overwhelmingly concentrated in China, which controls 92% of this capability, while U.S. domestic antimony reserves are projected to last only three years [7][11] - Chinese rare earth companies are innovating with green technologies, significantly reducing pollution from mining and developing advanced energy storage solutions [13][15] - The article concludes that the balance of power in the rare earth competition is shifting in favor of China due to its comprehensive industrial chain and technological advancements [15]