China issues veiled rare earths threats after US ups trade war ante with Huawei blacklist
- Foreign ministry says warning from top economic planning agency that government will prioritise domestic demand is sound and valid
- Communist Party mouthpiece also warns US not to underestimate China’s resolve to hit back
China has issued veiled threats that the country could retaliate against the US by restricting rare earths exports after US President Donald Trump imposed new measures to cut off the supply of chips and processors to Chinese telecoms giant Huawei.
Speaking at a regular news briefing, foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said an earlier warning by the country’s top planning agency on rare earths exports was sound and valid.
The National Development Reform Commission said in a statement late on Tuesday night that while China adhered to the principles of “open, coordinated and sharing” in its development of rare earths, the domestic industry would get supply priority.
“If anyone wants to use the products made from our rare earth exports to try to counter China’s development, then the people from the southern Jiangxi Communist revolutionary base would not be happy, and the people of China will not be happy,” the statement said.
On Wednesday, Lu said the NDRC “is a Chinese government body – its statement is certainly authoritative”.