A senior US official on Thursday defended Washington’s new critical minerals push, telling the South China Morning Post that supply chain diversification is a national security measure, not an attempt to form an exclusive bloc as Beijing has claimed.
She sidestepped claims that Forge was aimed at China, which controls nearly 60 per cent of global critical mineral production and 80 per cent of refining, framing it instead as a response to structural vulnerabilities in increasingly mineral-intensive supply chains.
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“The focus is truly on diversifying supply chains that will help in the event there’s a disruption, like the pandemic,” Houston said. “These are prudent steps globally … and it’s an important step for national security writ large.”
She added that “by virtue of diversifying global supply chains, we are ensuring that we’re not at risk for these disruptions or price coercion”.
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What are rare earths, and why is China’s dominance facing global pushback
What are rare earths, and why is China’s dominance facing global pushback
Critical materials are needed to make everything from defence systems and industrial robotics to washing machines.
