The New Battleground in the US-China Conflict: The Strategic Importance of Rare Minerals
मुख्य बातें
- •Rare minerals are essential for global technological development and green transformation.
- •The demand for rare minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and neodymium is increasing.
- •The US and China play pivotal roles in the production and processing of rare minerals.
- •The US is working to increase domestic production of rare minerals and reduce dependence on foreign sources.
- •China is strengthening its export and processing technologies for rare minerals.
As global technological advancement and the demand for green transformation intensify, rare minerals are emerging as critical raw materials. Among these, lithium, cobalt, and neodymium stand out as particularly significant. They play an essential role in technologies such as electric vehicles, wind power generation, and solar energy production.
The rising demand for these rare minerals has sparked a strategic competition between the United States and China. China currently leads the world in the production and processing of these minerals. In 2023 alone, China accounted for 70% of global lithium production and 60% of cobalt production. This dominance has prompted the US and other countries to ramp up efforts to enhance their own production and processing capabilities.
