China’s critical mineral strategy beyond geopolitics

By Weihuan Zhou

China’s critical mineral strategy is often viewed through a geopolitical lens that overstates the risks it poses to global supply chains. While China is a dominant processor, it remains heavily import dependent and has pursued a dual approach that balances supply security with environmental reform, industrial upgrading and technological advancement. Misreading these policies as primarily coercive risks fragmented supply chains and higher vulnerabilities. More resilient critical mineral supply chains will depend on inclusive cooperation rather than treating China itself as the central risk.

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