Core Viewpoint - The article discusses China's strict export controls on rare earth elements, which are crucial for the semiconductor and military industries, highlighting the strategic implications for global supply chains and the competitive landscape between China and the U.S. [2][4][17] Semiconductor Industry - The semiconductor industry is heavily reliant on rare earth elements, with every item on the control list corresponding to critical processes, achieving 100% coverage [6][12]. - Key applications include chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) using high-purity cerium oxide, essential for achieving atomic-level flatness in wafers, with significant implications for chip yield [12][6]. - The EUV lithography machines, vital for advanced chip manufacturing, depend entirely on controlled rare earth materials, with no substitutes available [9][10]. Military Applications - Rare earth elements are termed "war metals" in defense, with 87% of U.S. weapon systems relying on these materials, which lack mature alternatives [17][18]. - The F-35 fighter jet requires 417 kg of rare earth materials, with critical components sourced from China, indicating a significant vulnerability in U.S. military capabilities [19][22]. - The Virginia-class submarines and missile systems also depend on rare earth materials for performance and reliability, underscoring the strategic importance of these resources [24][27]. Domestic Rare Earth Industry - China's rare earth industry is characterized by a complete ecosystem from mining to application, with six major groups controlling over 90% of resources and refining capacity [32][31]. - The industry has seen significant consolidation, enhancing resource utilization and technological collaboration, which supports the effective implementation of export controls [35][34]. Strategic Value of Export Controls - The export controls are not merely supply restrictions but represent a strategic shift from resource-based to value-driven industry leadership, reshaping global supply dynamics [37][36]. - The controls have led to a significant increase in prices and profit margins for domestic rare earth companies, breaking the previous low-price export model [38][39]. Impact on the U.S. - The U.S. faces a critical dependency on China for rare earth imports, with 77% of its supply coming from China, leading to severe supply chain vulnerabilities [43][41]. - Efforts to establish a domestic supply chain for rare earths are hindered by high costs, lengthy approval processes, and technological barriers, making it difficult to replace Chinese sources [44][45]. - The military and semiconductor sectors are experiencing significant operational impacts due to supply shortages, with production capabilities being curtailed [45][41]. Geopolitical Implications - The article emphasizes the ongoing geopolitical struggle over resource sovereignty and technological dominance, with China leveraging its rare earth resources to enhance its strategic position globally [46][48]. - The current situation illustrates that technological advancement alone does not equate to industrial control, as resource advantages combined with regulatory frameworks create a more resilient strategic force [48][47].

Core Insights - Rare earth elements are critical strategic metals essential for national development, particularly in high-tech fields such as semiconductors, new energy, and defense [1] Group 1: Definition and Strategic Value - Rare earth refers to a total of 17 metallic elements in the chemical periodic table, including 15 lanthanides, as well as scandium (Sc) and yttrium (Y). They are typically divided into light rare earths and heavy rare earths, with the latter being scarcer and more strategically valuable [4] - Rare earths are known as "industrial vitamins" due to their excellent magnetic, optical, and electrical properties, making them key materials in high-tech industries such as semiconductors, electric vehicles, wind power, aerospace, and defense [4] Group 2: China's Role in the Global Supply Chain - China is the only country with the capability to produce the entire rare earth industry chain, controlling approximately 90% of global rare earth processing capacity, particularly excelling in heavy rare earth separation technology [4][6] - The recent upgrade in China's export control policy on rare earths includes new regulations on five types of heavy rare earths and extends to rare earth technologies, equipment, and raw materials. It also requires foreign companies using Chinese rare earths or technologies for re-export to obtain Chinese permission [4][7] Group 3: Unique Characteristics and Advantages - Rare earth elements possess a unique 4f electron structure, allowing for significant enhancements in material properties with minimal additions. For instance, neodymium-iron-boron magnets are crucial for high-performance motors and hard disk drives, while terbium and dysprosium stabilize magnets at high temperatures [6] - China's advantages lie not only in its rare earth reserves but also in decades of accumulated, hard-to-replicate smelting and separation technologies, along with a complete industry chain [6] Group 4: Global Regulatory Changes and Challenges - The introduction of China's "foreign direct product rule" indicates that products manufactured abroad containing specific Chinese rare earth elements or utilizing Chinese rare earth technologies will be subject to Chinese export controls. This marks a shift from resource exportation to rule exportation and control over global supply chain pricing [7] - Despite having rare earth resources, countries like the United States and Australia heavily rely on China for heavy rare earth refining and separation, with analyses suggesting that the U.S. may lag behind China in heavy rare earth separation technology by approximately 20 years, making it difficult to establish an independent rare earth supply chain in the short term [7] Group 5: Applications in Semiconductor Industry - Rare earths play multiple critical roles in semiconductor manufacturing, including precision equipment where neodymium-iron-boron magnets are essential for achieving nanometer-level precision in motion, and in stabilizing laser systems with materials like terbium gallium garnet crystals [7] - In the chemical mechanical polishing stage of chip manufacturing, cerium dioxide abrasives are the mainstream choice due to their high selectivity and efficiency. Additionally, rare earth elements such as lanthanum and yttrium are incorporated to optimize the performance of transistor gate dielectrics in advanced processes [7]