Critical State: China's Dominance on Rare Earth
If you read just one thing this week … read about China outracing the US in the fight for rare earth dominance.
At The New Republic, David S. Abraham wrote about how the United States has lost to China in the race to rare earth dominance. The article delves into China's strategic dominance in the rare earths sector.
Two days after President Donald Trump started a global trade war, China announced export restrictions on rare earth elements on April 4.
Abraham covered the implications of the export controls on rare earth materials and magnets, which have exposed significant strategic vulnerabilities in the US economy. These controls, although not outright bans, have effectively halted shipments, impacting America's tech leadership, military readiness, and clean energy ambitions.
The piece discussed how China's victory in this critical industry was not accidental, but the result of decades-long, dedicated industrial policy and strategic commitment. “China’s dominance wasn’t inevitable; it resulted from three decades of dedicated industrial policy and strategic commitment,” Abraham wrote.
China's rare earths industry, centered in cities like Baotou in China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region, has evolved from importing processing capabilities developed in the US and Europe to mastering and refining these techniques through sustained experimentation. This has enabled China to produce cheap, high-quality rare earth materials at scale, a feat that other nations have struggled to replicate.
Abraham underscored the urgency for the US to rebuild its industrial base, spur innovation, and train a skilled workforce to regain its economic and military advantage. Without immediate action, he warned, the US is “not just risking supply shortages. We’re conceding the tools of modern economic and military power.”
If You Read One More Thing: Orbán’s Man in Brussels
At Politico, Gabriel Gavin covered how Hungary's EU Commissioner, Olivér Várhelyi, has raised procedural objections to the proposal aimed at ending the bloc's dependence on Russian oil and gas.
The article highlights the tension within the EU as it strives to finalize the roadmap designed to help energy firms terminate existing contracts with Moscow and discourage future deals.
Várhelyi's move, which came just hours before the plan's anticipated release, has sparked controversy due to his formal obligation to act independently from Hungary's national political interests.
Given Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's Russia-friendly energy policies, Várhelyi's objection is widely viewed as politically motivated This development underscores the complex interplay between national interests and EU-wide policies, particularly in the context of energy security and geopolitical strategy.
Despite the procedural hiccup, EU officials remain optimistic that the plan will ultimately be approved.
‘Leader of the Free World’
At The Guardian, Andrew Roth analyzed the Israeli government's plans for Gaza, influenced by Trump's apparent disinterest in what happens to the Strip or its residents. This lack of vision has emboldened rightwing Israeli politicians to support the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, leading to a severe humanitarian crisis.
Trump initially wanted a “Riviera” on the Gaza Strip, which the US would own. Trump floated the displacement of Palestinians to achieve this goal. But he has moved on, leaving Netanyahu unchecked and the ceasefire broken.
An Israeli blockade has worsened the already dire humanitarian situation in the besieged and war-ravaged strip. The Israeli government has approved a takeover of Gaza.
“Once Trump said” Palestinians should move outside Gaza, “you could see how not only the radicals, but also Likud ministers and so on, have an excuse,” said Amos Harel, a correspondent for Haaretz. “‘It’s not us. It’s the world, the free world’s leader is saying that, so we have to play along.’”
Deep Dive: The Timber Threat
Human Rights Watch's (HRW) latest report, "Facing the Bulldozers: Iban Indigenous Resistance to the Timber Industry in Sarawak, Malaysia," paints a stark picture of the ongoing struggle between the Iban indigenous community and the timber industry in Sarawak. The report, released on May 4, 2025, documents the severe impact of logging activities on the Iban community of Rumah Jeffery, highlighting the broader issues of Indigenous rights and environmental degradation.
Rumah Jeffery, an Iban community nestled deep within the rainforest of Sarawak, is home to approximately 60 members who live in a traditional longhouse along the Belawit River. “The forest is a cornerstone of Rumah Jeffery’s identity as a community,” the report states. “Rumah Jeffery residents commune with forest spirits, and they carefully maintain their ancestors’ burial grounds in the forest,” and engage in activities such as foraging for edible plants, harvesting fruit trees, setting fish traps, and hunting.
However, the community's way of life has been under threat due to the activities of Zedtee Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of the Malaysian timber giant Shin Yang Group. The Sarawak government granted Zedtee a lease to establish a timber plantation that overlaps with Rumah Jeffery's territory. This lease allows for the clearing of natural forest to make way for a tree farm, significantly disrupting the community's access to their ancestral lands. “The company felled valuable fruit trees the community had cared for and harvested for decades, resulting overall in the loss of nearly eight hectares of tree cover in 2022,” according to the report.
Zedtee's operations have proceeded without the free, prior, and informed consent of the Iban community, HRW said. This lack of consent has led to encroachment and harassment, with community members reporting instances of intimidation and threats from company representatives. The logging activities have not only caused environmental damage but have also undermined the community's ability to sustain their traditional practices and livelihoods.
Human Rights Watch emphasizes the legal and ethical obligations of the Sarawak government and the timber industry to respect Indigenous land rights. The report calls for immediate action to halt the logging activities and to ensure that any future operations are conducted with the full consent of the affected communities. It also urges the Malaysian government to recognize and formalize the land rights of Indigenous communities, providing them with the necessary legal protections against such encroachments.
The report's findings highlight the broader issue of Indigenous rights in Malaysia, where many communities face similar challenges in protecting their lands from industrial exploitation. It underscores the need for a more inclusive and respectful approach to development, one that prioritizes the rights and voices of Indigenous peoples.
The report serves as a crucial reminder of the ongoing struggles faced by Indigenous communities and the urgent need for systemic change to protect their rights and preserve their way of life. The Iban community's resistance against the timber industry is emblematic of a larger fight for justice and environmental sustainability in Malaysia.
Show Us the Receipts
At Inkstick, Laurence Claussen discussed the potential of using the president's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) as a model for revitalizing US foreign aid following the Trump administration’s gutting of USAID. Claussen highlighted that the Trump administration's policies severely impacted USAID, eliminating around 80% of its programs. PEPFAR, launched in 2003, has been highly successful in combating HIV/AIDS, saving over 25 million lives.
Meanwhile, William D. Hartung, a regular Inkstick contributor, examined Trump’s patterns when it comes to weapons trade. In the past, for instance, the president demonstrated a willingness to overlook allegations of human rights abuses while celebrating a deal to arm Saudi Arabia. “The Trump administration’s approach risks enabling repressive, reckless regimes that provoke instability and war — the exact opposite of what US arms sales policy should be about,” Hartung wrote.
At the World, Valerie Hamilton explored the contentious appropriation of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s legacy by US Christian nationalists. Bonhoeffer, an anti-Nazi theologian executed in 1945 for his role in a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler, is revered for his resistance against tyranny. Still, parts of the US Christian right have reinterpreted his story to support their political agenda, casting him as a symbol in their fight against progressives. This reinterpretation has sparked a transatlantic feud, with Bonhoeffer scholars and his descendants condemning the misuse of his legacy. According to the article, they argue that Bonhoeffer opposed nationalism and advocated for an inclusive church. Bonhoeffer’s great-nieces and nephews said for “Christian nationalists to cast progressives as Nazis and themselves as latter-day Bonhoeffers, is to twist history ‘to put themselves on the right side of it.’”
Support Inkstick
Inkstick Media relies on your contributions to continue delivering in-depth, human-focused reporting on critical global issues. Your donation helps ensure that stories like the ones about US foreign aid and international conflicts reach a wider audience, fostering informed discussions and meaningful change. Join us in championing the truth by supporting our journalism.
Critical State is written by Inkstick Media in collaboration with The World.
The World is a weekday public radio show and podcast on global issues, news, and insights from PRX and GBH.
With an online magazine and podcast featuring a diversity of expert voices, Inkstick Media is “foreign policy for the rest of us.”
Critical State is made possible in part by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.