China tightened export restrictions on rare earth-related items and materials, which are used in high-tech and dual-use products, on Thursday to safeguard national security and interests.
Oct. 9 China tightened export restrictions on rare earth-related items and materials, which are used in high-tech and dual-use products, on Thursday to safeguard national security and interests by preventing them from ending up in the hands of foreign militaries, Beijing said.
Unveiled by China’s Ministry of Commerce, Announcement No. 61 restricts the export of rare earth items and bars their sale to foreign military entities and related firms, as well as some semiconductor-related companies. Announcement No. 62 restricts the export of technologies related to rare earth mining, smelting, separation and other related processes as well as the assembly, debugging, maintenance and repair of related production lines.
« Rare earth-related items have both civilian and military applications, and controlling their export is common international practice », a Commerce Ministry spokesperson said in response to a reporter’s question on Thursday.
Unspecified foreign individuals and organizations have come into possession of rare earth items from China that have been used in military and other sensitive fields, according to the spokesperson, who said this activity poses « serious harm or potential threats to China’s national security and interests, undermining international peace and stability, and harming global nonproliferation efforts.
