The hills of Jiangxi province are home to most of China's rare earth mines, with the materials used in a wide range of products including smartphones and missile guidance technology. In a rare visit to the region last month, AFP journalists were trailed and monitored by minders who declined to identify themselves. Business has been booming: the number of rare earth processing points in China observed by the US Geological Survey jumped from 117 in 2010 to 2,057 by 2017. Nearby, construction work was getting started for the day on a vast new industrial park housing facilities including rare earth processing sites. The bustling mining region is the result of a decades-long push by Beijing to build up its might in the strategic sector.

Source: Indian Express December 21, 2025 07:45 UTC