Rare earths become an important bargaining chip for China against the United States? The NDRC responded.

Reporter Question: There are many public opinion that the current Sino-US economic and trade frictions continue to escalate. As a strategic resource of China's superiority, rare earths may become an important bargaining chip for China's counter-measure against the United States. How do you view this point of view?

NDRC Answer: The so-called "a branch is not a tree, and a tree is not a forest." In today's highly globalized industrial division of labor, there is no development and progress without synergy. As the world's largest supplier of rare earth materials, China has always adhered to the principle of openness, synergy and sharing to promote the development of the rare earth industry. On the one hand, we adhere to the principle that rare earth resources give priority to domestic needs; on the other hand, we are also willing to meet the legitimate needs of countries around the world for rare earth resources. We are pleased to see that China's rare earth resources and rare earth products can be widely used in the manufacture of various advanced products to better meet the needs of people around the world for a better life.

Regarding Sino-US economic and trade frictions, the relevant departments have repeatedly issued a solemn statement. I would like to reiterate here that the industrial chains of China and the United States are highly integrated and highly complementary, and the so-called joint benefits and struggles are all hurts. No winners. Do you suggest that rare earths will become China’s counter-measures against the US’s unwarranted suppression? What I can tell you is that if anyone wants to use the products that we export from rare earths and use them to curb the development of China, then I want to say that the people of the Central Plains Soviet Area (South Jiangxi Province) and the Chinese people will be unhappy.