- China has leverage -China occupies a commanding position, producing more than 95 percent of the world's rare earths, and the United States relies on China for upwards of 80 percent of its imports. Rare earths are 17 elements critical to manufacturing everything from smartphones and televisions to cameras and lightbulbs. -China is not the only country with sizeable reserves of rare earths. Mining rare earths creates toxic waste and the potential release of harmful radioactive tailings. Meanwhile, cutting off the United States would mark a sharp escalation that Beijing may not have the stomach for, said Li of the RSIS.

Source: Bangkok Post May 22, 2019 09:48 UTC