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China Just Turned Off U.S. Supplies Of Minerals Critical For Defense & Cleantech

⁨806⁩ ⁨likes⁩

Submitted ⁨⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨floofloof@lemmy.ca⁩ to ⁨technology@lemmy.world⁩

https://cleantechnica.com/2025/04/05/china-just-turned-off-u-s-supplies-of-minerals-critical-for-defense-cleantech/

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  • MrAlternateTape@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

    The US have a shitstorm coming. That’s what you get when you let a toddler play with the control knobs of the country.

    Another very interesting point is how China made themselves so powerful. Anything with electronics needs some sort of resource from China. China is a very big and powerful player.

    We should wonder if we want t be this dependant on one country for all our tech needs. I think the answer is no…

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    • ansiz@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      This is all just Japan from the 80s all over again. There are a bunch of movies from the period with Japan as the bogeyman. The peak probably being the backstory of Die Hard.

      The key difference this time is the USA was paying for Japan’s defense, had a massive military base, etc. China doesn’t have that problem, so they can counter American demands with their own demands.

      Interestingly, look at interviews with Trump from the 80s, he’ll talk about Japan almost with the same language that he uses for China now. The most famous was probably an appearance of Trump on Oprah.

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      • eugenevdebs@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

        It’s always amazing to see the media of the 80s just shitting on Japan. “Cheap mass market products that never work.” “They’re going to take all the American jobs.”

        In Back to the Future 2, McFly is seen as weak for having a job with a Japanese boss and getting fired for it.

        Cyberpunk has Japanese decorations and cosmetics because it was invented when Japan was the yellow peril.

        At the same time, Japanese-Americans were asking for reparations from the internment camps, charged with the crime of being Japanese and having all their assets sold off without any consent.

        Japan was able to help get a start on the next generation of writers with the mass production of anime into Western audiences. Now if someone doesn’t watch anime it’s seen as weird.

        Right now China is that “other” nation. I wonder if in 30 more years we’ll look back at it and go “What the fuck were we smoking in hating people we never even had contact with? No Chinese person ever deported me. No Chinese person ever called me slurs.”

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      • undeffeined@lemmy.ml ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

        Can you elaborate on the Die Hard part? I recall the terrorist being German. The only reference to Japan, that I recall, was the name of the building.

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    • jaxxed@lemmy.ml ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      What’s funnier is that the Americans could have dropped Chinese raw materials if they had built a collaboration before tariffing China, but the current Government have only one tactic: try to bully everyone at once. They really did make their own mess.

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      • MangoCats@feddit.it ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

        View from inside the funny farm: I just hope we can remove the head clown and tell the rest of the world “sorry about that, we’ll try to not let it happen again, can we just call a do-over?”

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    • Kecessa@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      The anti globalists were calling it 40 years ago and for some stupid reason it’s not a freaking fascist who is destroying the system that the left was fighting against back then!

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      • phdepressed@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

        Even liberals have been saying that now in modern times. Isolationism is a prime Republican message for a reason.

        The line must go up so lobbying+no spines has ensured we haven’t do anything about it. There have been are a couple rare earth mines here in the US but it hasn’t been profitable and has been heavily subsidized. We needed some other source ready before doing something like this and we don’t have it. So it’s just stupid.

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    • humanspiral@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      We should wonder if we want t be this dependant on one country for all our tech needs. I think the answer is no…

      It’s also by far the biggest market for those materials, and a massive scale industry there. The IRA did incentivize local supply chains for many materials, but the high ROI scarcity model in US, had many announced projects cancelled, and new administration’s love for fossil fuels and funding sources for tax cuts for the rich, threaten other projects. The reason projects were cancelled is that price, even after subsidy, would be horribly uncompetitive relative to China, and includes further uncompetitive processing industry requirements, that aren’t usually the same expertise as a mining operation.

      trade dependence is bad

      is something you can say only when global peace is impossible, but also when your country is the one that fully decides global peace or war. War is not a path for shared prosperity. Trade dependence can be very prosperous (PPP GDP is far more important measure than nominal). Markets usually function because sellers are not forced to hate buyers, instead of trying to usually be their friend.

      Far crazier than OP high tech industry suicide, is food and apparel. 1930s Smoot-Harley tariffs didn’t just amplify great depression, they directly led to global famine. Farming bankruptcies and low global trade means planting less, if surplus can’t be sold anywhere. No one will import avocados or apparel this week, and that has a bigger short term impact on lives.

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      • MangoCats@feddit.it ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

        I have always thought that it makes the most sense to import your non-renewable resources regardless of whether you have them domestically or not. Then, if the SHTF, you’ve got what you imported, the exporters don’t have it anymore, AND you have your domestic sources to develop.

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    • tyfpgg@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Yeah… I read yesterday they are testing flying cars to help with reducing commute times. Wow… flying cars… dreams from my childhood that sadly we didn’t make come true, but China is testing theirs.

      (re-post because strangely, my first post showed up twice, as in duplicates, then I deleted it, and they both deleted. maybe my cache or lemm.ee issue. shrug)

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      • Natanox@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

        Don’t be fooled too hard by propaganda though. We also got tests of flying cars in other countries, it was a beloved subvention target of some german politicans as well… but it’s just not economically viable, and for the filthy rich it isn’t in any way better than a helicopter for now. They also said some nonsense about having “a train that can go anywhere” which was just a fucking bendy bus, and their infrastructure keeps falling apart due to no or absurdly bad quality control (which other countries can also do very well)… so yeah, China is just stupid in different ways. To put it mildly.

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    • tyfpgg@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago
      [deleted]
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      • cynar@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

        We’ve had flying cars since the 70s, they are called helicopters.

        The issue with a flying car for general use, is one of maintenance and safety. If an older car breaks down, it causes a tailback. If a flying car breaks down, it could demolish a school. The higher standards required means higher costs. That means rich people only. The rich use helicopters in exactly that manner.

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  • nyan@lemmy.cafe ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    There are alternative sources for these . . . but the US has pissed all of those countries off too.

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    • IllNess@infosec.pub ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Don’t worry. Russia is willing to work with Trump and Trump can say that Russia is its only ally.

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      • umbrella@lemmy.ml ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

        their only ally is a country that plays both sides (and would most likely side with china if pressed)

        this is hilarious.

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    • deczzz@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      But not many and nor are they able to provide the required quantity, as described in the article.

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  • sundrei@lemmy.sdf.org ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Looks like coal’s back on the menu, boys! (Ugh.)

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  • cupcakezealot@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    US is just lucky they didn’t start selling off and unloading US debt

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    • WalnutLum@lemmy.ml ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      According to the Trump that’s exactly what he wants, countries to sell off the bonds they have in exchange for super long term bonds that defer interest for like 100 years.

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      • Wiz@midwest.social ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

        Bold optimism that the USA will last 100 of any time unit.

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      • ubergeek@lemmy.today ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

        That’s not how it works, though? But alas… our white house isn’t filled with our best, but rapists and criminals.

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    • Ajen@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Who would they sell it to?

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      • Lucky_777@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

        International collection agencies? Imagine the spam.

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  • huppakee@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Luckily Europe is one step ahead:

    Access to clean energy and rare earths is critical for the EU as it seeks to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 and boost its autonomy in strategic sectors.

    But sizeable shares of the global mining, processing and recycling of some of the critical raw materials, like lithium, that are indispensable to the development of renewable energy, everyday items as well as defence systems, are controlled by China, from which the EU wants to ‘decouple’ due to its aggressive and protectionist trade and foreign policy practices.

    Central Asia holds large deposits, including 38.6% of the world’s manganese ore, 30.07% of chromium, 20% of lead, 12.6% of zinc, and 8.7% of titanium.

    “These raw materials are the lifeblood of the future global economy. Yet they are also a honeypot for global players. Some are only interested in exploiting and extracting,” von der Leyen told Central Asian leaders.

    “Europe’s offer is different. We also want to be your partners in developing your local industries. The added value has to be local. Our track record speaks for itself,” she added.

    euronews.com/…/eu-seals-new-central-asia-partners…

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    • Natanox@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Europe also tries their best to improve the situations in the other mines (some are so awful they’re basically off-limit for western companies because of child slavery and such stuff) and find new patches for example in Scandinavia or middle- and south America which could then be extracted with the respective countries.

      Brussel does a lot of bullshit, sometimes phenomenally so (in the end it’s just politics as well), but in this case they really seem to try.

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  • dutchkimble@lemy.lol ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    What would work great is no tariffs, no passports, no visas, no countries, no religion too

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    • harmsy@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Imagine all the people living for today!

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    • samus12345@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      It’s difficult if you try. But worth it.

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    • Beero@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Can you imagine, living for today?

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      • Grass@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

        well I am tired of living for yesterday…

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    • OozingPositron@feddit.cl ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      And no borders?

      Image

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    • meliaesc@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      The world would be absolutely wonderful with no people 🥹

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      • bluemite@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

        It will happen eventually. We may be accelerating how quickly that is coming

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      • MangoCats@feddit.it ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

        The Drax plan.

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    • MangoCats@feddit.it ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can.

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  • Treczoks@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Just wait until the Chinese cut off basic industrial inputs like chemicals, screws, nails, electronic parts.

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  • PrivateNoob@sopuli.xyz ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    There is just too much political post in this channel. Where is the tech?

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    • Ilovethebomb@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Politics affects everything, including tech.

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      • Korkki@lemmy.ml ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

        Tech or precisely it’s real world applications affect everything, including politics.

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      • PrivateNoob@sopuli.xyz ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

        Hmm good point. Okay my bad then.

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    • WanderingThoughts@europe.pub ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Where is the tech?

      In China.

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    • surewhynotlem@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Where is the tech?

      We won’t have any

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    • baggachipz@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      “Let’s not make this political”… the calling card of the embarrassed conservative.

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      • PrivateNoob@sopuli.xyz ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

        That may apply to some people, but i’m pretty liberal. Probably this post wasn’t the best one to react to, I’m just tired of consuming political stuffs, which can’t be changed (instantly) by myself and it just makes me angry.

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    • humanspiral@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      This is a tech/manufacturing challenge issue.

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      • PrivateNoob@sopuli.xyz ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

        Fair enough

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    • huppakee@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      In the source’s url

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  • Snowclone@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    But have we learned from our mistakes? No.

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  • cmlael67@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    They’d better not cut off supplies of fried rice and crab rangoon! We’ll have a REAL problem if they do that!

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    • MangoCats@feddit.it ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      My local oriental market has their business up for sale…

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  • ipkpjersi@lemmy.ml ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Good, make them suffer.

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  • IndustryStandard@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Trump really got them.

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    • BlackSheep@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      His bluff didn’t work this time. He wants to play another hand. His shifty eyes are betraying his poker face. He’ll win the next hand! Who cares anyway, he’s not playing with his money.

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  • LovableSidekick@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Easy answer - just put a big tariff on war so nobody can afford it!

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  • KulunkelBoom@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    way to go trumpsky.

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  • j0ester@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Damn! First it was higher tariffs now this? How will MAGA ever get their swag gear?

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  • Mediocre_Bard@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    Shocking. I am shocked. Shocked, I tell you.

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  • finitebanjo@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    If the stock market wasn’t such a shitshow maybe we’d finally see SBSW taking off. They’re the only Platinum and Palladium producers in North America who can compete with Russian producers.

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  • aeternum@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    as they say, play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

    Also, FAFO

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