Opinion columnist Javier Blas's opinion is very much at odds with all the recent reports I've read, including the AFR thinkpiece I was quoting from.
According to Lipmann Walton metal trader, Aaron Jerome....."China mines and refines most of the world's rare earths, and dominates the downsream supply chain.......giving it enormous power over America's defence industrial base."
Who's correct?.....the opinion columnist?.....or a Pentagon official who suggested that whilst they have stockpiles of some rare earths, "but those reserves are not enough to sustain defence companies indefinitely...... or metal trader, Aaron Jerome quoted above?
Full disclosure: I do tend to be somewhat cynical and a touch sceptical about the worth of opinion columnist's opinions!
...I probably prefer to source information from experts in their field.
Time will tell, I hope it turns out well, and we all live happily ever after!
Wes Tiger
(20min delay)