China’s official media, China.com, published an article on the 13th, stating that China’s upgrade of rare earth export control measures is both a necessary response to foreign organizations illegally transferring and re-exporting to sensitive fields, and a countermeasure against continued U.S. pressure on China. The article also described China as becoming the "manager" of the global rare earth order.
On October 9, China announced an expansion and intensification of its rare earth export controls. The next day, Trump posted on social media criticizing Beijing for "becoming hostile," threatening that there was no need to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping later in the month; he also warned of a 100% tariff on Chinese goods starting November 1 and the implementation of export controls on all key software.
On Monday, China.com published a commentary by Wang Ziyang, an assistant researcher at the Institute of Peace and Development, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, stating that China’s new rare earth export control regulations issued by the Ministry of Commerce are “treating others as they treat us,” and will apply to foreign manufacturers whose products contain Chinese rare earth elements or use Chinese technology. The commentary described this as “borrowing” from the export controls the U.S. has implemented against China since the 1950s.
The author wrote that through the implementation of export controls, China is bringing rare earth exports onto a legalized track, which is essentially an “upgrade in governance” for the global rare earth circulation system. The author also stated these measures are not about “restricting supply,” but about preventing rare earths from being abused or illegally transferred.
According to the article, some foreign companies have previously diverted rare earths of Chinese origin for military use, which not only threatens China’s national security but also violates international non-proliferation obligations. China’s control measures strengthen monitoring of rare earth flows, scrutiny of their uses, and responsibility tracing.
The author also said that upgrading rare earth export controls will serve as a model for building a “responsible rare earth supply chain” globally, adding: "This policy shows that as a responsible major country, China is shifting from the role of ‘rare earth supplier’ to ‘governor of rare earth order.’"