The China Card

[Ignis Fatuus]

China has blocked all exports of rare earths to Japan, stepping up the pressure on Tokyo to release a Chinese boat captain detained in disputed waters.

-- AFP.


China has 95% of the supply of rare earths. This will be one of the battlegrounds of the 21st Centurey.

[Pogle]

Oh I just googled rare earths - very interesting, I've learned something today!

[CheeseSlice]

From what I've read it sounds like China only has a monopoly on the rare earth mining industry and not the availability of natural resources. Other countries can mine it also but it hasn't been economic to do so because of Chinas "much quickness plenty cheapness"

[Doggy Styles]

From what I've read it sounds like China only has a monopoly on the rare earth mining industry and not the availability of natural resources. Other countries can mine it also but it hasn't been economic to do so because of Chinas "much quickness plenty cheapness"

That's my understanding too. I think there's a load of that stuff under Scandanavia.

[Saddo]

Oh I just googled rare earths - very interesting, I've learned something today!

You are not alone.

[hyperD]

China has 95% of the supply of rare earths. This will be one of the battlegrounds of the 21st Centurey.

Another dagger in the folly called wind turbines and their magnets.

Not that this is the major problem with them - a wind turbine cannot replace fossil fueled load balancing power stations with respect to a country's power management.

[TimberWolf]

The thing about rare earths is that they're not particularly rare.

Indeed. Although one definition of rare is as shorthand for rarefied: of low density, rather than abundance:

# S: (adj) rare, rarefied, rarified (having low density) "rare gasses"; "lightheaded from the rarefied mountain air"
WordNet Search - 3.0

I thought Lithium was rare, in absolute terms, but knowing you, I checked and indeed it is not a rare element (in the common usage of the word).

[Ignis Fatuus]

Commonly available (or one isotope there of) in your friendly local H Bomb factory.

Wait for the Dilithium to become available, it's much more useful.

[Doggy Styles]

Wait for the Dilithium to become available, it's much more useful.

Yes, for crystals used by you-know-who to boldly go...