'China using rare earth materials for geopolitical dominance'
image for illustrative purpose
New Delhi: China's rare earth weapon has emerged as one of the most sophisticated instruments of modern economic statecraft as it exploits Western dependencies on materials essential for defence systems, renewable energy technologies, and advanced manufacturing processes, according to an article.
"The strategic implications extend far beyond mining and metallurgy. These materials represent a fundamental shift in how nations project power, where geological advantages translate directly into geopolitical leverage. Unlike conventional resources that fuel economies, rare earths enable the precision guidance systems, electronic warfare capabilities, and advanced manufacturing processes that define 21st-century military doctrine," the article in Discovery Alert stated. It highlights that the 17 rare earth elements occupy a unique position in modern defence systems as their magnetic, optical, and catalytic properties cannot be replicated through substitution or synthetic alternatives. This creates absolute dependencies across critical defence platforms.
Neodymium and dysprosium form the core of high-performance permanent magnets essential for precision-guided munitions, while europium and terbium enable night vision systems and targeting displays. Yttrium compounds facilitate laser rangefinders and communication systems, creating a web of dependencies that spans every aspect of modern warfare capability, the article noted.
Military specifications require materials to perform within extremely narrow tolerances across temperature ranges, shock loads, and electromagnetic interference levels. For instance, a fighter aircraft's navigation system demands magnetic stability across temperature swings from Arctic conditions to afterburner heat, while submarine sonar arrays require consistent performance under crushing ocean pressures, it observed.
