reuters.com By Naw Betty Han, Shoon Naing, Devjyot Ghoshal, Eleanor Whalley and Napat Wesshasartar
June 12, 20255:48 PM GMT+7Updated 5 days ago

Item 1 of 4 United Wa State Army (UWSA) soldiers march during a media display in Pansang, Wa territory in northeast Myanmar, October 4, 2016. Picture taken on October 4, 2016. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun/File Photo
[1/4]United Wa State Army (UWSA) soldiers march during a media display in Pansang, Wa territory in northeast Myanmar, October 4, 2016. Picture taken on October 4, 2016. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
- Summary
- Beijing-backed UWSA protecting new rare earth mines in Shan state, sources say
- Mines being run by Chinese-speaking operators
- China relies on Myanmar for rare earth imports but had recently faced some supply challenges
- Rare earths offer Beijing leverage in trade war with Washington
BANGKOK, June 12 (Reuters) – A Chinese-backed militia is protecting new rare earth mines in eastern Myanmar, according to four people familiar with the matter, as Beijing moves to secure control of the minerals it is wielding as a bargaining chip in its trade war with Washington.
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.
Tiếp tục đọc “Exclusive: China-backed militia secures control of new rare earth mines in Myanmar”








Người dân sống ở hai bên sông Irrawaddy sẽ bị ảnh hưởng nặng nề bởi dự án thủy điện. Ảnh: AFP
