Will anybody be surprised if China exercises that right?...

Will anybody be surprised if China exercises that right? Realistically, China was already limiting access to these vital critical minerals if they even have half a thought the US might be of use to the US going forward militarally. The Chinese are not like our pigiron Bob during WW2.
There's no doubt the technological, economic, and military might of the US... but, sh*t, did Trump's mob not learn anything from putting the cart before the horse with his tarrifs and China's subsequent ban on exporting critical minerals? Now that the US could well be dragged into an ongoing conflict in the Middle-East that China already shared their concerns about, does anyone reckon China is not going to become more circumspect about where their critical minerals end up? Hell, cutting all critical minerals again in case American companies or US allies mislead China about end use now seems possible.
There's no argument from me that the west needs an alternative source of critcal minerals, its just i'll continue to make the point how dumb they are in not already being well and truly onboard. And if I'm honest, I'm not unhappy the US might be caught with their pants down. Reckon they need that to see what a big arse they have in Trump.