Have you ever thought about what the soul of the smartphone in your hand, which can easily cost tens of thousands of dollars, is? Is it the fashionable design or the smooth operating system? No, these are just superficial aspects. What truly determines its fate is the "industrial flavor enhancer" hidden behind a pile of chips and circuit boards—rare earths.

This term "flavor enhancer" is not an exaggeration. The amount needed is not much, but without it, smartphones, computers, electric vehicles, and even high-tech gadgets like missiles and radar would all be out of commission. Why? Because rare earths have special properties and play a key role in various high-tech fields, making them the "jack of all trades" in the industrial world.

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It's like playing a game where you've worked hard to defeat monsters and level up, finally collecting a set of divine equipment, only to find that you're missing one crucial piece to activate the set's attributes, and this piece happens to be monopolized by a top player. Isn't that frustrating?

Rare earths are this "crucial piece" in the real world. Whoever controls them gains a significant advantage in the future technology race.

A War Without Smoke

Don't be fooled by the seemingly harmonious international community. Behind the scenes, there's a fierce struggle for rare earth resources, with battles raging. Why? International relations experts have long said that these resources are no longer just economic; they've risen to the level of national strategy. Whoever controls rare earths holds the high ground in future technology and military affairs.

Don't believe it? Let's look at the actions of the big players like China, the United States, and Russia.

Starting with China, we may not have much else, but we have plenty of rare earths, with 44 million tons in reserves, firmly the world's number one. Decades ago, we took a wrong turn, not valuing this treasure and selling a lot of it cheaply. But later, the higher-ups realized the strategic value of this resource and began implementing a series of protection and control policies, not only restricting mining and exports but also prioritizing the supply of most rare earth resources to domestic military and technology enterprises.

On October 1, 2024, the new "Regulations on Rare Earths" were officially implemented. This is not just talk; it shows that China is serious about no longer being satisfied with simple resource exports but aims to upgrade the industry chain to play the "good hand" of rare earths to a royal flush effect.Russia, although holding 10 million tons of rare earth reserves, is still significantly behind China. However, they are not naive. After discovering new rare earth deposits in Siberia in 2023, their actual reserves have approached 20 million tons.

But do you think Russia will exploit and export rare earths on a large scale like they used to with oil and natural gas? You would be too naive to think so. The Russian government has stated that rare earths are the driving force behind national scientific and technological progress and economic development, and they need to be developed slowly and steadily.

Looking at the United States, this country indeed has strong technological capabilities, but unfortunately, it has a meager amount of rare earth resources, with only a mere 1.8 million tons, which is not even enough for its own use, and it largely depends on imports. Isn't that embarrassing?

Of course, the United States has not thought about being self-reliant, but the high cost of domestic rare earth mining and strict environmental regulations have tied the hands of the U.S. government, leaving them to watch helplessly as China and Russia's rare earth resources continue to grow.

To escape this embarrassing situation, the United States has not been idle in recent years, searching for rare earth substitute materials, reviving domestic industries, and even courting allies to establish a diversified supply chain for rare earths.

But to be blunt, these efforts are at best a drop in the bucket. It is difficult to shake China's dominant position in the rare earth field.

From a country rich in rare earth resources to a strong nation in the rare earth industry, China, once known as the "world's factory" for exporting at low prices due to its abundant resources, is no longer the "vulnerable" country it once was.Take rare earths for example. Decades ago, we might have been a nouveau riche who could be capricious just because we had the mines. But now, we have grown into an "invisible champion" who has mastered core technologies and has a complete industrial chain. From the initial resource advantage, to the subsequent technological breakthroughs, and now to the formation and improvement of the industrial chain, China's rare earth industry has gone through a thorny path from imitation to surpassing, from catching up to leading.

Now, looking at the world, besides China, which other country can independently complete the entire process from rare earth mining to refining, and then to deep processing and application? The answer is: none!

What's more important is that China is not only good at it itself but is also willing to play with other developing countries.

For example, Malaysia, this Southeast Asian country, although it also has a lot of rare earth resources, it lacks technology and cannot develop them. What to do? Ask China for help! China is not only willing to provide technical support but is also willing to cooperate in development, jointly promoting the development of the rare earth industry. This pattern, this mind, it's hard to refuse! Of course, China is not a "goody two-shoes" either, and we are absolutely unambiguous when it's time to be tough. The new version of the "Regulations on the Management of Rare Earths" implemented on October 1, 2024, is the best proof.

Strengthening the control of rare earth resources, on the one hand, is to protect our own strategic resources, and on the other hand, it is to maintain the order of the international market and avoid vicious competition.

After all, rare earths are non-renewable resources, and they decrease with use. If we don't cherish them, it will be too late to regret in the future.

Looking to the future, the three words "rare earths" are destined to become an unavoidable topic on the international stage. Why?

The reason is simple. As technology develops and the times progress, human demand for rare earths will only increase, and the amount of rare earth resources is limited. Whoever seizes the initiative first will have the initiative in future development.It is foreseeable that the future competition for rare earths will become even more intense, and the concept of "rare earth strategic reserves" may even emerge, similar to the current strategic reserves of oil. Countries will try every means to hoard rare earth resources to cope with future uncertainties.

For countries that hold rare earth resources, life will not be easy either.

On the one hand, they have to face various overt and covert struggles, coercion and temptation from other countries, and may even face military threats. After all, in the face of huge interests, any agreements or moralities may become a piece of waste paper.

On the other hand, they also have to withstand domestic pressure, balance the relationship between resource development and environmental protection, and avoid repeating the old path of "pollution first, governance later."

Of course, in addition to competing for existing rare earth resources, countries are also actively looking for new ways out, such as developing rare earth substitute materials or developing more efficient rare earth utilization technologies.

However, these efforts need time to make breakthroughs, and even if breakthroughs are achieved, they cannot completely replace the status of rare earths.

After all, rare earths are called "industrial monosodium glutamate" because they have unique properties that other materials cannot replace.

It can be said that for a considerable period in the future, rare earth resources will still be the focus of competition among countries, and it will profoundly affect the evolution of global scientific and technological development, industrial patterns, and international order.

The author believes that rare earths are a precious wealth given by the Earth to mankind. They can promote scientific and technological progress and improve human life. However, if used improperly, they may also become the fuse that triggers conflicts and wars.Faced with the increasingly fierce competition for rare earths, we cannot help but ask: is the future of humanity destined to be spent in endless contention and confrontation?

The answer is obviously no. In this increasingly integrated world, no country can stand alone. Only through cooperation and mutual benefit can the ultimate solution to the rare earth issue be found.

Countries should strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, jointly formulate reasonable rules, establish a fair order, and promote the sustainable use of rare earth resources. Let rare earths, known as the "industrial flavor enhancer", truly become a "condiment" that benefits all of humanity.