Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
China’s trump card? Rare earths and geopolitics
#rareearths
#geopolitics
#china
#tradewar
#globalpower
One consequence of Donald Trump’s trade war with China has been increasing attention to a group of minerals called ‘rare earths’. Rare earths are vital to the production of everything from smartphones and electric vehicles to wind turbines and advanced weapons.
China is responsible for 60 per cent of all rare earths mined but, more importantly, it controls the processing of 90 per cent of all global refined rare earth output.
What should the rest of the world do about China’s monopoly? Is it feasible to create alternative sources of supply – and what would it cost? Can innovation reduce the need for rare earths – or can recycling save the day? What does it all mean for the direction of geopolitics?
The speakers on the panel are:
Robert Fig - partner, the metals risk team
Animesh Jha - professor, applied material science
Henry Sanderson - journalist; author, Volt Rush, the Winners and Losers in the Race to Go Green
The chair is:
Austin Williams - director, Future Cities Project; honorary research fellow, XJTLU, Suzhou, China; author, China’s Urban Revolution
This video was filmed and edited by WORLDwrite volunteers attending the Battle of Ideas Festival 25. WORLDwrite volunteers filmed over 50 sessions at the festival. To edit, sound clean and prepare these videos for the Academy & WORLDwrite channels, takes at least 2 days each. With no paid staff the charity needs your help to keep its edit suites switched on. Please chip in if you can by visiting the charity's JustGiving page at justgiving.com/charity/worldwrite Or hit the Donate button below the video. Thank you for your help and for watching. Please subscribe to out channel.
China’s trump card? Rare earths and geopolitics
#rareearths
#geopolitics
#china
#tradewar
#globalpower
One consequence of Donald Trump’s trade war with China has been increasing attention to a group of minerals called ‘rare earths’. Rare earths are vital to the production of everything from smartphones and electric vehicles to wind turbines and advanced weapons.
China is responsible for 60 per cent of all rare earths mined but, more importantly, it controls the processing of 90 per cent of all global refined rare earth output.
What should the rest of the world do about China’s monopoly? Is it feasible to create alternative sources of supply – and what would it cost? Can innovation reduce the need for rare earths – or can recycling save the day? What does it all mean for the direction of geopolitics?
The speakers on the panel are:
Robert Fig - partner, the metals risk team
Animesh Jha - professor, applied material science
Henry Sanderson - journalist; author, Volt Rush, the Winners and Losers in the Race to Go Green
The chair is:
Austin Williams - director, Future Cities Project; honorary research fellow, XJTLU, Suzhou, China; author, China’s Urban Revolution
This video was filmed and edited by WORLDwrite volunteers attending the Battle of Ideas Festival 25. WORLDwrite volunteers filmed over 50 sessions at the festival. To edit, sound clean and prepare these videos for the Academy & WORLDwrite channels, takes at least 2 days each. With no paid staff the charity needs your help to keep its edit suites switched on. Please chip in if you can by visiting the charity's JustGiving page at justgiving.com/charity/worldwrite Or hit the Donate button below the video. Thank you for your help and for watching. Please subscribe to out channel.
