Taiwan’s Role in the US-China Competition For Critical Minerals - By Ling-Tuan Linda Liu

Despite the seemingly dim prospects of China’s Secondly, there is a better understanding of what ever tightening grip, it is worth noting that, US-China competition over rare earth supplies on the refining and processing products of means for the like-minded partners of the United REEs or other critical minerals, China’s export Taiwan’s Role in the US-China Competition for Critical Minerals Septem. [...] Additionally, despite the high the REEs processing yield only accounts for only demand of rare earths, the need for minerals 20% of the total, compared to other rare earths.15 has not necessarily led to higher prices.22 In fact, This has further caused the serious over-stocking its pricing is often associated with extremely and price plunge of other processing products, complex and variable market. [...] As China faces a gap to fill regarding implementing directive production plans to upgrading its industry in the lower end of the reduce the plethora of rare earths small and supply chain, close collaboration and exchange medium sized enterprises and crack down on information and technology know-how on illegal mining and processing activities. [...] Yet the United States and further.19 its allies still need to actively seek for effective Taiwan’s Role in the US-China Competition for Critical Minerals September 2024 5 solutions to address the potential short-term capacities, with only one or two companies supply chain disruptions, at least in the near- and running in the upstream section of Taiwan’s rare medium-term. [...] To scale have now been made in Taiwan instead.25 Yet one up the recycling efforts domestically will require of the main challenges that Taiwan has faced is collective cooperation and financial investments that it lacks sufficient refining and processing from the government, business and the academia Taiwan’s Role in the US-China Competition for Critical Minerals September 2024 6 sectors.