The Guardian View on Donald Trump’s China Deal: Rare Earths paves the green road to militarization | Editorial
IIronically, the minerals needed to save the planet may help destroy it. The rare ground elements, the metal spine of wind turbines and electric cars, is now the prize in the geopolitical arms race. The commercial agreement between Washington and Beijing is regaining rare ground shipments from China to the United States, which was suspended in revenge on Donald Trump’s tariff. Behind the beating, there was an awareness in Washington that these are important inputs for the United States. Not only is it necessary by American symbols like Ford Boeing, but for its fighting aircraft, rocket guidance systems and satellite, satellite.
This understanding indicates that Washington will expand some anti -measures as soon as Beijing resumes the delivery of rare land. The irony is that to reduce its dependence on China, the United States must rely on Beijing for a little longer. This is not separated yet. It is postponed. This, however, may not last. Mr. Trump has signed an executive order to enhance the production of critical minerals, which encourages faster permits for mining and processing projects. It is eyes Ukraine Greenland’s underground gossip to break the dependence on China.
The West has become dependent on one geopolitical competitor for such materials – the materials that were extracted once locally before closure – due to the cost and environmental interests. China, for its part, has become dominating rare global land. This market force has been used before – especially against Japan in 2010. It is difficult to believe that it is self -reliance that dramatically dependent on China for the main minerals.
The NATO summit for this month witnessed the western pressure on the artificial reindeer by nominating itself. This is also a long -term extractive aspiration in the global north. CanadaThe flow of critical metal deposits, says that the return of planned mining will be a new basis for coalition solidarity. This month, the European Union The name For the strategic reserves of the rare Earth “to prevent supply chain disorders and economic blackmail from China” – with highlighting their importance not only for electrical cars but for defense and space industries. “Flexibility” means Dug At home and control extract abroad.
The same minerals we need zero in terms of zero competition. It is uncomfortable that “green growth” and militarization have merged into one political framework, which collapses the distinction between environmental transition and the accumulation of weapons. Magnet Electric car It is also magnet for Hyper Sound missile. At the same time, the human and environmental outcome continues to rise – to a large extent from view and non -synchronous with the idea of environmental sustainability.
Last week, the guardian of Poto, the rare land capital of China, found evidence of toxic basins, Poisoned soil And the demolition of “cancer villages” – the hidden cost of our digital and electric era. Framing this as an uncomfortable necessity risk repeating previous errors. For metal -rich countries, the increase in global demand brings the opportunity. But as United Nations Report Notice this year, without strong institutions and rewards, the risks of familiar fate: corruption, conflict and environmental ruin.
Today, the stampede of critical minerals and the promises of the responsible sources should not see the field of familiar logic – first, moral extraction at a later time.