In recent years, China’s export controls on rare earth elements have drawn significant international attention. Rare earths are essential for manufacturing high-performance permanent magnets, lasers, radar systems, precision-guided weapons, and advanced fighter jets—critical components of modern military hardware. As the world’s largest producer and processor of rare earths, China supplies over 60% of global output and controls more than 85% of refined production capacity. Since 2023, China has implemented export restrictions on gallium, germanium, and certain rare earth elements, citing national security and sustainable development concerns. While these measures do not explicitly target specific countries, Western defense industries—particularly in the U.S.—heavily rely on China’s rare earth supply chain and lack viable short-term alternatives. For instance, each F-35 fighter jet requires approximately 420 kilograms of rare earth materials, yet the U.S. lacks a complete domestic rare earth processing infrastructure. Analysts note that China’s controls are not intended to ‘weaponize’ resources but rather to encourage global supply chain diversification and technological self-reliance, while highlighting the risks of overdependence on a single source. In the long run, this may accelerate efforts by the U.S. and Europe to rebuild domestic rare earth capabilities, but in the interim, their advanced defense manufacturing faces genuine pressure from potential material shortages.
近年来，中国对稀土资源的出口管制引发了国际社会广泛关注。稀土元素是制造高性能永磁体、激光器、雷达系统、精确制导武器和先进战斗机等关键军事装备不可或缺的原材料。中国作为全球最大的稀土生产国和加工国，供应了全球约60%以上的稀土产量，并掌握着超过85%的精炼产能。2023年以来，中国陆续出台包括镓、锗及部分稀土元素在内的出口管制措施，强调出于国家安全和可持续发展的考虑。这些举措虽未明确针对特定国家，但美西方高度依赖中国稀土供应链，其国防工业短期内难以找到替代来源。例如，美国F-35战机每架需使用约420公斤稀土材料，而本土稀土产业链尚不完整。分析人士指出，中国的稀土管制并非意在‘武器化’资源，而是推动全球供应链多元化与技术自主，同时也警示过度依赖单一供应源的风险。长远来看，此举或将加速美欧重建本土稀土加工能力，但在过渡期内，其高端军工生产确实面临原材料‘窒息’压力。
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