China strengthens its government support for mineral exploration locally, in light of the intensification of policy makers their efforts to achieve the ambition of President Xi Jinping in achieving self -sufficiency in resources, amid the intensification of competition with the United States, according to the British Financial Times.
During the past year, at least half of the 34 Chinese provinces governments -including the governments of the major resources producing regions such as Xinjiang -announced the increase in subsidies or expanding the scope of access to mineral exploration, according to an analysis conducted by the newspaper for official data.
The increase in financing comes at a time when controlling strategic minerals in the world has emerged as a field of conflict between the United States and China, as the great powers compete for the resources necessary for advanced technologies, such as semiconductors, electric cars, robots and missiles.
Major achievements
“A series of major achievements in the field of mineral exploration have been achieved, which greatly strengthened the ability to ensure the safety of industrial chains and important supply chains, and respond to external environmental fluctuations,” said the director of the Department of Geological Exploration and Department of Natural Resources.
Zelly added that the new mineral exploration plan focuses heavily on strengthening local energy resources and “strategic” minerals.
China is the world’s largest producer of 30 out of 44 main metals monitored by the US Geological Survey.
In an attempt to alleviate Beijing’s domination of this sector, US President Donald Trump gave local mining since his return to the White House last January, as well as reaching basic minerals abroad, including in Greenland, Ukraine and Democratic Congo.
Xi focused on China’s dependence on itself in the field of science and technology since it took over the leadership of the ruling Communist Party of China in 2012.
This trend became more urgent in light of the escalation of tensions with the United States, and Xi resorted to strengthening supply chains and giving priority to advanced manufacturing and emerging high technology.
The Bijin supply chains in Beijing are a decisive geopolitical point in its trade and technological war with the United States, and the government has allocated more than 100 billion Chinese yuan ($ 13.8 billion) to invest in geological exploration annually since 2022, which is the highest pumping rate in 3 years during a decade.
During the past year, China has tightened control of strategic metal exports – which is many of which are essential for the manufacture of chips, including gallium, germanium, antimony, graphite, and Tingstin – in response to American restrictions on technology exports to China.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvnhkqmr-_A
Sector support
Corrie Combs, assistant director of Trevium China Consultant Company – and its headquarters, said that China has provided tax subsidies, incentives, and other types of support for the local mining sector by “turning a blind eye” to the basic commodity market courses.
“From the perspective of the exchange market is extravagant, but from the perspective of political and economic security it is not excessive at all, but rather deserves the cost,” he added, adding that “Beijing’s money is not the only goal.”
Xinjiang – a resource -rich western region but it was poor as Beijing Igur and other Muslim minorities have suppressed her support for geological exploration to 650 million yuan ($ 89.9 million) in 2025, from 150 million yuan ($ 20.74 million) in 2023, and he also sharply strengthened the issuance of mining exploration rights to record levels.
China has made long -term efforts to control vital resources abroad.
The Financial Times reported last January that China has provided two decades of $ 57 billion over 26 states backed by states supported to mining and treat copper, cobalt, nickel, lehium and rare minerals throughout the developing world.
During the era of Xi, Beijing followed policies aimed at protecting strategic resources, and included a step in 2021 to prevent foreign companies from investing even indirectly in mining tungsten, rare minerals and uranium.
It also stipulated the approval of the State Council (Chinese Cabinet) to enter any foreigner to the rare ground mineral mining zone.
Last year, a Chinese parliament committee has established a legal mechanism that facilitates companies to exploit agricultural lands to explore mineral resources and obtain mining rights.
