Myanmar - China Secures Control of New Rare Earth Minerals

China has a near-monopoly over the processing of heavy rare earths into magnets that power critical goods like wind turbines, medical devices and electric vehicles. But Beijing is heavily reliant on Myanmar for the rare earth metals and oxides needed to produce them: the war-torn country was the source of nearly half those imports in the first four months of this year, Chinese customs data show.

Business records across Myanmar are poorly maintained and challenging to access, and Reuters could not independently identify the ownership of the mines.

Chinese mining firms can produce heavy rare earth oxides in low-cost and loosely regulated Myanmar seven times cheaper than in other regions with similar deposits, said Neha Mukherjee of London-based Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. "Margins are huge."

China has repeatedly said that it seeks stability in Myanmar, where it has significant investments.

The bet on Shan's rare earths deposit could provide more leverage to China amid a global scramble for the critical minerals.

- www.reuters.com, 12 June 2025

Commentary: The above article from Reuters highlights Chinese influence globally.

Where are the world’s rare earth resources? Statistica.com lists Canada having 44%, Brazil 21%, India 6.9%, Australia 5.7%, and Russia 3.8%. Myanmar is not even mentioned. Nevertheless, it is quite clear that China—the world’s leading manufacturer—makes sure to secure access to these rare earth deposits.

Google Gemini reveals: “China dominates the rare earth market, holding a

significant share of global production and processing. While other countries like the United States and Australia also mine rare earths, China's control over the refining process is particularly strong, giving it a dominant position in the industry.”

What is China’s intention? The answer is simple: just like any other country on planet earth throughout history, they say “we are the greatest, we are the best, we dominate.”

We note that communist China is adaptable. In practice, they are operating a communist/capitalist/socialist system. Contrary to the US, who avoids change, still stuck in the ancient European measuring system using such units as miles, feet, inches, gallons, pounds, etc.

The good news, however, is that the Church is growing leaps and bounds in communist China.

A Google search asking in which countries Christianity is growing fastest, reveals: Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Tiawan, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

Another search reveals a reasonable estimate of around 44 million Christians in China. Because of the existence of house churches not known by the government, suggests potentially over 100 million Christians.

The apostle Paul makes a profound statement in 1 Corinthians 9:20-22: “And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;  To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” Yes, the Church is being built, and the fullness of the gentiles will come in, maybe sooner than we think.