China Launches New Precision Strike Against Pentagon Rare Earth Supply Chains
CENTENNIAL, Colo. (April 4, 2025) – China retaliated today against the U.S. and allied nations by restricting the export of highly strategic Chinese-made rare earths, critical minerals that are needed in virtually all U.S. defense systems and across the electronics, manufacturing, high-technology, transportation, and energy sectors. The implications for U.S. national security are dire, according to NioCorp Developments Ltd. Executive Chairman and CEO Mark A. Smith (“NioCorp” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ:NB).
“This is a precision strike by China against Pentagon supply chains that enable our most powerful weapons and defense systems, from stealth fighters and precision-guided munitions to satellite systems and hypersonic weapons,” according to Mr. Smith. “The U.S. has long known that it walks a fine line by relying so heavily on China for rare earths. With this new move, Beijing is jamming its fingers on the pressure points of American deterrence. These aren’t just metals—they’re bottleneck elements, and without them, much of the Pentagon’s advanced hardware risks slipping from superiority to obsolescence.”
Mr. Smith, a 40+ year mining and rare earth industry veteran, predicted such a move by China months ago and has been raising the alarm with U.S. national security officials. See https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/mine-baby-mine-us-needs-dig-deep-help-military
“This is not a mere supply chain hiccup, it’s a geopolitical earthquake in slow motion. Every fighter jet delayed, every missile contract disrupted, every paused satellite payload becomes a ripple in America’s strategic posture. And with Russia and China tightening coordination, this may mark the start of a material cold war fought not with tanks, but with export licenses and embargoes,” he added.
The middle and heavy rare earths to which China will now restrict access are these: samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium, and yttrium. The restrictions, announced China’s Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs, include metals, alloys, oxides, compounds, and related products of the targeted rare earths. The announcement can be seen here: https://www.mofcom.gov.cn/zwgk/zcfb/art/2025/art_9c2108ccaf754f22a34abab2fedaa944.html
NioCorp is developing a critical minerals project in Nebraska that is expected to produce the processed rare earths to which China now seeks to restrict U.S. access, as well as niobium and titanium. More information on that project can be seen here: https://www.niocorp.com.
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