In The News

COVID-19 Affects National Security in Novel Ways

The new coronavirus brings us smack up against the modern reality of a totally globalized and interconnected world — and strongly suggests the need for a globally coordinated response. John McLaughlin

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What will the US defense industry do when China cuts off rare earth supplies?

China has spent decades building the supply chains for rare earths and other critical materials into a weapon aimed directly at U.S. supply chains…The Chinese strategy is based on a harsh calculus: Depriving only defense contractors of rare earth supplies will drive costs and production lead times up for the U.S. military and cause concern within the U.S. government, but it will not lead to widespread public discontent.  Jeffery A Green https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/commentary/2019/07/05/what-will-the-us-defense-industry-do-when-china-cuts-off-rare-earth-supplies/

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The Dystopian Lake Filled by the World’s Tech Lust

Rare earth minerals have played a key role in the transformation and explosive growth of China’s world-beating economy over the last few decades. It’s clear from visiting Baotou that it’s had a huge, transformative impact on the city too. As the centre of this 21st Century gold-rush, Baotou feels very much like a frontier town. Tim Maughan

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COVID-19 Threatening EV, Computer Production

Companies may be able to plug holes in supply chains disrupted by the new coronavirus infections paralyzing Chinese production, but there are some commodities virtually only China can supply: rare earths. Marcy Kreiter

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COVID-19 and the Renewable Energy Impact

The global pandemic is affecting China’s manufacturing sector, with immediate effects on greenhouse emissions, but the longer-term impact of the slowdown remains to be seen. Anca Gagiuc

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Coronavirus kicks the demand for a Critical Materials Supply Chain into Overdrive

Aware of the increasing prioritization to secure the supply of 35 recognized critical materials by the U.S. Government, the coronavirus has kicked the sourcing mandate into overdrive. Tracy Weslosky

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