China and the Geopolitics of Rare Earths

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophia Kalantzakos
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earths ◽  
Resource Competition ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Trade Dispute ◽  
Policy Responses ◽  
Economic Statecraft ◽  
The Rare Earth

In 2010, because of a geopolitical incident between China and Japan, seventeen elements of the periodic table known as rare earths became notorious overnight. An “unofficial” and temporary embargo of rare-earth shipments to Japan alerted the world to China’s near monopoly position on the production and export of these indispensable elements for high-tech, defense, and renewable energy sources. A few months before the geopolitical confrontation, China had chosen to substantially cut export quotas of rare earths. Both events sent shockwaves across the markets, and rare-earth prices skyrocketed, prompting reactions from industrial nations and industry itself. The rare-earth crisis is not a simple trade dispute, however. It also raises questions about China’s use of economic statecraft and the impacts of growing resource competition. A detailed and nuanced examination of the rare-earth crisis provides a significant and distinctive case study of resource competition and its spill-over geopolitical effects. It sheds light on the formulation, deployment, longevity, effectiveness, and, perhaps, shortsightedness of policy responses by other industrial nations, while also providing an example of how China might choose to employ instruments of economic statecraft in its rise to superpower status.

Introduction

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophia Kalantzakos
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earths ◽  
Resource Competition ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Export Prices ◽  
Trade Dispute ◽  
Economic Statecraft ◽  
Globalized World ◽  
Monopoly Position

In 2010, rare earths were thrust into geopolitical prominence overnight as a result of a territorial incident between Japan and China. China’s “unacknowledged” and short-lived rare earths embargo against Japan, coupled with China’s decision to sharply reduce export quotas of these materials to all industrial nations, brought home the potential dangers of its near-monopoly position on their production and export. Prices skyrocketed and the international outcry intensified because the seventeen rare-earth elements are critical inputs for high-tech, defense, and renewable energy sources. Given their centrality, the rare-earth crisis is not merely a trade dispute. It raises questions about China’s use of economic statecraft and the impacts of growing worldwide resource competition while pointing to the complexities facing policymakers as they develop strategies and responses in an increasingly globalized world.

Investigation on the Rare Earth Terpyridyl System

1965 ◽  
Vol 20 (12) ◽  
pp. 1661-1664
Author(s):  
Shyama P. Sinha
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earths ◽  
Infrared Studies ◽  
Spectrochemical Series ◽  
Breathing Vibration ◽  
The Rare Earth

The preparation of terpyridyl chelates of heavier rare earths of the type M (Terp) (NO3)3 ·n H2O(M = Tb — Yb and n = O —3) is described. The infrared studies of the solid chelates show the coordinated nature of both terpyridyl and nitrate groups. A spectrochemical series based on the shift of the “breathing” vibration of terpyridyl in the complexes is proposed.

scholarly journals China’s public policies toward rare earths, 1975–2018

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 127-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuzhou Shen ◽  
Ruthann Moomy ◽  
Roderick G. Eggert
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Environmental Degradation ◽  
Rare Earths ◽  
Chinese Economy ◽  
The State ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Mineral Industry ◽  
Policy Documents ◽  
Economic Background ◽  
The Rare Earth

AbstractThis paper summarizes and evaluates China’s policies toward the rare-earth industry from 1975 to 2018. We define five stages over this period and focus on China’s purpose, the underlying economic background in each stage, and the connections between stages. By reviewing a broad set of original policy documents, we find that the purpose of China’s policies has evolved, affected by the market players, the development of the mineral industry, and the state of the Chinese economy. Initially, the Chinese government encouraged the development of the upstream rare-earth sector. Since the early 1990s, China has focused on the development of downstream activities that use rare earths in the manufacture of intermediate and final products. Since the early 2000s, China has focused additionally on the problems of disorder in the rare-earth industry with particular reference to the environmental degradation caused by rare-earth production, as well as industrial reorganization to discourage unsanctioned production.

scholarly journals An Assessment of Natural Radioactivity in the Namxe Rare Earth Deposit, Laichau Province, Vietnam

Minerals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 602
Author(s):  
Quang Van Phan ◽  
Trung Thanh Dao ◽  
Phuong Nguyen ◽  
Dinh Huan Trinh ◽  
Thomas Heinig
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earth Metals ◽  
Environmental Issues ◽  
Water Usage ◽  
Radioactive Materials ◽  
Mining Site ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
The Rare Earth

The Namxe rare earth deposit belongs to Namxe commune, Phongtho district, Laichau province, which has a large resource of rare earth metals in Vietnam. The case study presents an assessment of the naturally occurring radioactivity for the rare earth prospect Namxe for future monitoring purpose, especially for the case of an actual mine in the area. The investigation included determination of radioactivity in the air, soil, water, and plants. The results showed that although the water usage is harmless, radioactive materials were found in soils and plants in considerable amounts. The mapping of these features revealed two zones of elevated radioactivity, one of which even bearing health risks according to several health standards. These zones correspond well with the rare earth deposit area. From the study, safety, health, and environmental issues could be deduced, including a risk assessment for the area and the intended mining site.

Optical Activation of Ion Implanted Rare-Earths

1993 ◽  
Vol 301 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.N. Favennec ◽  
H. L'haridon ◽  
D. Moutonnet ◽  
M. Salvi ◽  
M. Gauneau
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Ion Implantation ◽  
Rare Earth Elements ◽  
Rare Earths ◽  
Annealing Temperature ◽  
Implantation Energy ◽  
Optical Activation ◽  
Energy Dose ◽  
The Rare Earth ◽  
Ion Implanted

ABSTRACTA review of the main results concerning the ion implantation of the rare-earth elements is given.To obtain the best optical activation of rare-earths, we attempt to optimize the implantation (energy, dose) and annealing (temperature, duration) conditions. The studied materials are Si, II-VI binaries (ZnTe, CdS), III-V binaries (GaAs, InP), III-V ternaries (GaAlAs, GaInAs) and III-V quaternaries (GaInAsP).

scholarly journals The isotopic constitution and atomic weights of the rare earth elements

1934 ◽  
Vol 146 (856) ◽  
pp. 46-55 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earth Elements ◽  
Positive Result ◽  
Rare Earths ◽  
Periodic Table ◽  
Resolving Power ◽  
Fundamental Importance ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Isotopic Constitution ◽  
The Rare Earth

Hitherto the widest gap in our knowledge of the isotopic constitution of the elements has been in that part of the periodic Table containing rare earths. A means of obtaining the mass rays of these substances was discovered 10 years ago. By this it was possible to demonstrate the simplicity of lanthanum and praseodymium and to obtain a provisional analysis of the complex elements cerium and neodymium. Beyond these the only positive result was a faint blurr which suggested that erbium was complex and it was decided to postpone further attempts until an instrument of higher resolving power was available. When this was constructed it was naturally first applied to the numerous problems which appeared to be of more fundamental importance so that the complete lack of information on elements 62 to 76 remained.

scholarly journals On the ultra-violet spectrum of ytterbium

1906 ◽  
Vol 78 (522) ◽  
pp. 154-156
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earths ◽  
Ultra Violet ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Rare Earth

The rare earth, ytterbia, was discovered in 1878 by Marignac. In 1880 Nilson, in purifying Marignac’s ytterbia, found that it contained another earth which he named scandia. Cleve, and more recently his daughter Astrid Cleve, have worked much on ytterbia, and within the last few years M. Urbain has taken up the subject, and has succeeded in purifying ytterbia in larger quantities. During my own work on the fractionation of the rare earths I also have prepared and worked with ytterbia. Marignac, Nilson, Cleve, and Urbain have each presented me with some of their ytterbia. Nilson’s earth, sent in 1886, appears very pure. Unfortunately, there was only sufficient to enable me to photograph the part of its spectrum between wave-lengths 2400 and 2580.

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