Whatever other matters we may differ on, I absolutely have no...

Whatever other matters we may differ on, I absolutely have no argument with this post. Trump, with his bombast, simply put the cart before the horse in his approach, not only with China but also with Denmark over Greenland and on matters involving Ukraine. Now China sees his poor hand and has called his silly bluff, and he's basically ostracised himself in Europe. Allies he may well need if things go south in his antagonations of China. Of course they'll still be allies, but the once dominant leadership can now rightly be subject to way more scrutiny.

Now, given this REE impasse will very shortly be really felt in various civilian industries, and critically for US weapon manufacturers, proper emergency levels of government-level of investment in REEs will be required, not the current piecemeal approach this far. Realistically, it won't be enough or fast enough, even if the private sector actually acts like it did in WW2, to head-off what may become a crisis before a solution. It's hardly surprising that several billionaires, Australians one like Gina in particular, have not so long ago took positions in REE. And, despite what will no doubt be accusations to the contrary, I'm not knocking IXR on this point, Gina went with Arafura and Twiggy with Hastings, it's curious that IXR didn't appear on their investment horizon. But, with the exception of China, they certainly were far more insightful than any nation level leadership. Though, like IXR, neither has SPs that delight holders (FYI, pre Gina, I did make a little bit on ARU).

As the Chinese may say: may you live interesting times. FYI, its not a kindly blessing! And the West has certainly put themselves in the situation where it's likely to become interesting.