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Frank Chen

China will strengthen strategic control over its mineral resources – including rare earths – through a new set of regulations that coordinate mining, processing, utilisation and stockpiling, as policymakers prioritise resource security amid intensifying geopolitical competition.
The 79-article regulations on implementing the new mineral resources law were promulgated by Premier Li Qiang and will take effect on June 15. They set out principles for building a more secure reserve system for critical minerals and include provisions to improve emergency preparedness.
The move comes as Beijing’s export controls on rare earths have become an important tool in its trade and technology rivalry with the United States, particularly since April 2025 when restrictions were imposed following US President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs.
Following Trump’s high-stakes visit to China last week, the White House said on Sunday that China would “address US concerns over supply chain shortages of rare earths and other critical minerals”.
Zhuang Wenyue, an analyst with the Institute of Public Policy at the South China University of Technology, said the regulations would empower the State Council, China’s cabinet, to identify critical minerals and enforce planning controls, restrictions and mining authorisations, with Article 5 and other clauses including detailed stipulations on most critical minerals.
“Beijing has elevated using and securing strategic mineral resources to an economic and national security level, stressing internal supply, strategic management and hoarding as well as environmental protection,” Zhuang said.




“The overarching goal is to strengthen whole-process coordination from exploration, mining, production, supply, storage and sales,” he added, noting that Beijing was also preparing contingency plans in the event mining or production were disrupted.
China maintains a dominant position in the mining and processing of rare earths, which are essential to sectors ranging from electronics and home appliances to robotics and advanced weaponry.
The country holds the world’s largest known reserves, estimated at 44 million metric tons according to the US Geological Survey, and has continued to scale up domestic production. Overall exports of rare earth permanent magnets totalled 5,126.3 tonnes last month, down 2.1 per cent from March but up 94.8 per cent compared with the same month last year.
However, Zhuang said the new regulations also reflected Beijing’s broader push to secure supplies of other minerals. “While others look to China for rare earths, China also relies on imports for its needs in iron ore, copper, nickel and others, much like oil,” he said.
“The new regulation forms part of efforts to build reserves and resilience as significant domestic supply shortfalls could impact AI and the new energy transition.”
The law would replace outdated mining and resource management rules introduced in the 1980s and 1990s, he added, and would raise standards for ownership, mining rights and environmental protection.


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New law coordinates control over the full supply chain as Beijing frames minerals as a national security priority


New law coordinates control over the full supply chain as Beijing frames minerals as a national security priority.


China moves to secure critical mineral supply chain with sweeping new framework

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}New law coordinates control over the full supply chain as Beijing frames minerals as a national security priority

New law coordinates control over the full supply chain as Beijing frames minerals as a national security priority