So many questions so few answers.....
First, let's forget about thinking of China as a "hive" with unified purpose and agenda. It's not, thus the ongoing battle to control illegals. Thus the supply & price instability that damages the whole industry.
Thus the fact that the big 6 are marginal at best in the current market. (Yes they can be subsidised to stay afloat and are.) The inside China supply chain has to work too.
Lynas currently does the hard bit: NdPr oxides. The rest (oxides->metals-> magnet materials) of the supply chain starting with Lynas is split between Japan and China. I think a JV to remove the Chinese link would upset no one, except perhaps China.
LYC Price at posting:
$2.05 Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held
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