China Tightens Control Over Rare Earth Exports, Impacting US Defense Industry

China has escalated its trade conflict with the United States by imposing new restrictions on the export of rare earth minerals essential to American defense technology. The move is widely viewed as a warning to Washington, highlighting the Pentagon’s reliance on Chinese-sourced materials.
The restrictions require special export licenses for six heavy rare earth metals, which are exclusively refined in China, as well as rare earth magnets, 90% of which originate from Chinese suppliers. These elements are critical for fighter jets, guided missiles, naval submarines, and advanced drone technologies.
“This decision is hugely consequential for our national security,” said Gracelin Baskaran, director of the Critical Minerals Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. China’s control over the supply chain allows it significant influence over American defense production costs, potentially disrupting military readiness.
Rare earths, a group of 17 elements including neodymium, yttrium, scandium, and dysprosium, play a key role in US defense systems. Fighter jets require yttrium for high-temperature engine coatings, while precision missiles depend on rare earth magnets for tail-fin rotation. The Pentagon reports that each F-35 fighter jet contains approximately 408 kg of rare earth materials, and some submarines require over four metric tons.
The US has been aware of China’s leverage for years. A previous disruption in 2010 saw Beijing halting rare earth exports to Japan over a diplomatic dispute, alerting Washington to potential supply vulnerabilities. Efforts to reduce reliance on Chinese materials followed, including President Trump’s 2017 executive order promoting domestic production and President Biden’s allocation of funds for rare earth extraction and refinement.
Despite stockpiling efforts, experts warn that the US remains vulnerable. Dan Blumenthal, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, noted, “We have more of a stockpile than we did 15 years ago, but that will not last long enough.” American defense firms may soon face rising costs and supply shortages as Beijing flexes its control over global rare earth markets.
Past conflicts provide precedent for seeking alternative sources. During World War II, the US scrambled to secure bauxite for aircraft production after German U-boats disrupted supply chains. Today, a similar urgency surrounds rare earths, as Washington strategizes ways to counter China’s latest move.