From Newsgroup: alt.politics.usa
https://japantoday.com/category/business/china-tightens-screening-of-japan-bound-rare-earth-exports
. . .
Xi is very upset that Japan has pledged to
get in the way of his long-planned invasion
of Taiwan.
"Rare Earths" aren't really THAT rare, but
the Chinese currently have all the facilities
for extracting/refining/purifying them. The
USA is trying to get up to speed, but that
may take a couple of YEARS.
A few replacements for neo magnets have been
developed - now commercial - based on advanced
boron/nitrogen crystals. Still, for now, neo
magnets are the de-facto standard. Some of the
other elements have become vital for electronics
needs as well. No replacement for them yet.
https://www.nironmagnetics.com/
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