Part 9/14:
However, this approach is fundamentally flawed. When control becomes the primary goal, it can quickly turn into fragility. The more China tries to enforce strict dominance over rare earth exports, the more it weakens its own economy by choking investment, eroding foreign trust, and accelerating the global shift away from Chinese dominance.
The Human Toll and Environmental Fallout
While geopolitical games unfold, ordinary workers in China bear the brunt of these policies. In regions like Inner Mongolia and Fujian—China’s main rare earth belts—workers are exposed daily to toxic dust and sludge, often under hazardous conditions. The environmental consequences are dire, with contaminated sludge leaking into local ecosystems.