Core Insights - The establishment of the "Rare Earth NATO" alliance aims to reduce reliance on China for rare earth materials, with representatives from eight countries, including Japan, South Korea, and Australia, signing the agreement [1] - China's strategic move to issue general export licenses to companies like Jinko Solar and Ningbo Yunsheng is seen as a tactical response to the geopolitical landscape, highlighting the potential risks for the U.S. defense industry if it loses access to Chinese magnetic materials [3] - The U.S. Department of Defense is facing significant costs in its efforts to develop a domestic rare earth supply chain, with a guaranteed purchase price of $110 per ton, which is 2.3 times the international market price [3] - Investment banks like JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs are betting on government subsidies to support domestic mining operations, indicating a lack of market competitiveness for U.S. mining companies reliant on government backing [3] - Lynas's operations in Malaysia are significantly more expensive than Chinese counterparts, with capital expenditures 3 to 5 times higher and an additional 50% premium due to environmental compliance costs, suggesting that the push for a de-China supply chain may lead to inflationary pressures [4] - The U.S. is incurring five times the cost to rebuild a mature industry that China has already mastered, raising concerns about the long-term viability of U.S. efforts to establish a competitive rare earth supply chain [6] - The potential establishment of an exclusive certification system by the U.S. and Europe could undermine China's cost advantages in the rare earth sector, posing risks to its market share and leading to overcapacity issues [6] - The geopolitical strategy of the U.S. aims to drive global inflation to 600% to sever supply chains, raising questions about the effectiveness of permits held by companies as either a weapon against competitors or a safeguard for their own interests [7]