Recent export restrictions imposed by China on critical rare earth minerals have sparked national security concerns for the U.S. military.

David Becker/Reuters

Jack Aylmer Energy Correspondent

Military

China’s export restrictions on rare earths raise US national security concerns

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Jack Aylmer Energy Correspondent

By Jack Aylmer (Energy Correspondent), Emma Stoltzfus (Video Editor)

China’s new export restrictions on rare earth minerals that are critical for U.S. military technology have raised national security concerns. The U.S. relies heavily on China, which supplies 70% of its rare earth imports and dominates global processing.
Defense experts warn the restrictions could escalate to further trade actions, including potential bans that would disrupt vital U.S. military supply chains.
The Pentagon is expanding domestic reserves and production, but analysts say current stockpiles would only last a few months if exports were fully cut off.

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Recent export restrictions imposed by China on key rare earth minerals could have a significant impact on the U.S. military. This move by Beijing has sparked national security concerns within the American defense community.

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Why are rare earths so important?

Rare earths — comprised of 17 metallic elements — are vital components in advanced military technologies, including fighter jet engines, missile guidance systems and compact motors in next-generation drones. Each F-35 fighter jet, for instance, contains roughly 900 pounds of rare earth materials, while submarines can require more than 9,000 pounds, according to the Defense Department.

The United States has long depended on China for the majority of its rare earth supply. Between 2020 and 2023, China accounted for 70% of U.S. rare earth imports. Globally, China is responsible for 61% of mined rare earth elements and 92% of processed rare earth outputs.

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What are China’s new restrictions these exports?

In response to tariff increases imposed by the Trump administration, the Chinese government has implemented new export controls requiring special licenses for the shipment of six heavy rare earths, which are refined almost exclusively in China, as well as rare earth magnets, 90% of which are also produced in China.

What are the implications for military readiness?

This new policy has led to warnings from defense and industry officials, who view the move as a signal of China’s influence over critical supply chains that support the U.S. military. These experts have also expressed concern that China could take further action by introducing tariffs, setting export quotas or enacting a full ban on rare earth shipments to the U.S.

“Even before the latest restrictions, the U.S. defense industrial base struggled with limited capacity and lacked the ability to scale up production to meet defense technology demands,” the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) wrote. “Further bans on critical minerals inputs will only widen the gap, enabling China to strengthen its military capabilities more quickly than the United States.”

What happens next?

Although the U.S. maintains a strategic stockpile of rare earth elements, analysts estimate it would only support military needs for a matter of months in the event of a complete supply cutoff.

The Pentagon is working to expand domestic production and processing capabilities while continuing to build reserves. However, defense industry leaders caution that disruptions amid the current trade conflict with China could still lead to increased costs and potential supply gaps.

Tags: China, military, National Security, Rare earth metals, rare earth minerals, tariffs, Trade

[Jack Aylmer]

THE U.S. MILITARY NEEDS RARE EARTH MINERALS TO FUNCTION-
BUT CHINA’S RECENTLY IMPOSED RESTRICTIONS ON THEIR EXPORT IS RAISING NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS.RARE EARTHS ARE 17 METALLIC ELEMENTS ESSENTIAL IN POWERING SOME OF THE MOST ADVANCED U.S. MILITARY TECHNOLOGY-
FROM FIGHTER JET ENGINES AND MISSILE GUIDANCE SYSTEMS TO COMPACT MOTORS IN NEXT-GENERATION DRONES.EACH F-35 FIGHTER JET, FOR EXAMPLE, CONTAINS AROUND 900 POUNDS OF THESE MATERIALS-
WHILE SUBMARINES CAN REQUIRE MORE THAN 9,000 POUNDS.HOWEVER, THE U.S. HAS LONG DEPENDED ON CHINA FOR A MAJORITY OF ITS RARE EARTHS SUPPLY-
AND ESCALATING TRADE TENSIONS BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS IS MAKING IT INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN THEM.BETWEEN 2020 AND 2023, CHINA ACCOUNTED FOR 70 PERCENT OF ALL U.S. RARE EARTH IMPORTS.CHINA IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR 61 PERCENT OF GLOBAL MINED RARE EARTH PRODUCTION AND 92 PERCENT OF THE WORLD’S PROCESSED RARE EARTH OUTPUT.BUT, IN RESPONSE TO RECENT TARIFF HIKES IMPOSED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AGAINST CHINA-
BEIJING INTRODUCED NEW EXPORT RESTRICTIONS REQUIRING SPECIAL LICENSES FOR THE SHIPMENT OF SEVERAL HEAVY RARE EARTHS AND RARE EARTH MAGNETS.A MOVE WHICH INDUSTRY AND DEFENSE OFFICIALS DESCRIBED AS A WARNING SHOT INTENDED TO REMIND THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT HOW MUCH OF ITS MILITARY’S WEAPONRY IS RELIANT ON CHINA.THESE EXPERTS ALSO CAUTIONED BEIJING COULD ESCALATE FROM THE LICENSING RESTRICTIONS TO IMPOSE TARIFFS, QUOTAS OR EVEN AN ALL-OUT BAN ON RARE EARTH SHIPMENTS TO THE U.S.WHILE THE U.S. DOES HAVE A STOCKPILE OF THESE CRITICAL MATERIALS SHOULD CHINA DECIDE TO HALT EXPORTS-
MILITARY ANALYSTS SAY IT WOULD ONLY LAST THE COUNTRY MONTHS.THE PENTAGON IS CONTINUING TO BUILD UP ITS RARE EARTHS RESERVES AND EXPLORE DOMESTIC ALTERNATIVES-
BUT THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY STILL SAYS POTENTIAL COST SPIKES AND SUPPLY GAPS MAY LIE AHEAD AMID THIS CURRENT CONFLICT WITH CHINA. FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M JACK AYLMER.

China’s export restrictions on rare earths raise US national security concerns

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