What are rare earths, and why is China's dominance facing global pushback
Rare earth elements are the cornerstone of producing electronics and technological applications, from defence equipment to automobiles. China dominates the global supply of rare earths, controlling more than 90 per cent of all processing. Amid widening trade wars and growing economic instability, companies have sought to diversify their supply chains to lower their reliance on Chinese supplies. But industry analysts suggest that from funding to production, such change could take upwards of 20 years because of major challenges including time, cost and human capital.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
36 minutes ago
- South China Morning Post
Nvidia's H20 chips face growing Chinese distrust over alleged back doors, 15% revenue deal
US chip giant Nvidia faces increasing mistrust in China over its H20 chips, after the company secured a licence from Washington to export the tailor-made processors by agreeing to pay 15 per cent of its revenues to the US government. On Sunday, a Chinese state media outlet labelled Nvidia's H20 chip as unsafe and urged Chinese buyers to boycott the artificial intelligence processors designed for the Chinese market. Despite Nvidia's repeated denials of 'back-door' vulnerabilities, Yuyuan Tantian, associated with state broadcaster China Central Television, said the H20 chip could not be trusted because of the US government's alleged efforts to embed 'back doors' in the chips. 'When a chip is neither environmentally friendly nor advanced or safe, as consumers, we certainly have the option not to buy it,' the outlet said in a commentary. It suggested that the H20 chip could be remotely controlled through hardware and software exploits, citing Washington's attempts in 1992 to implement surveillance via chip back doors and a recent bill proposed in May requiring US chipmakers to incorporate tracking features. Robots displayed at Nvidia's booth during the China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing last month. Photo: Xinhua Nvidia's chief security officer David Reber Jnr published a blog post last week titled: 'There are no back doors in Nvidia chips. No kill switches. No spyware.'
South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's best cheap eats: from Tam Jai to French toast
Hong Kong may be one of the most expensive cities in the world, but that doesn't mean you need to splurge to eat well. The city's most iconic eats are not found on expensive tasting menus, but are instead located on every other street. From street food and cha chaan teng dishes to iconic Cantonese roast meats, these are snacks and meals that represent the heart and soul of Hong Kong culture – and they just so happen to be easy on the wallet, too. Here are some of our favourites. Spicy rice noodles at TamJai SamGor With nearly 200 locations across Hong Kong, this casual noodle shop may be a chain, but it's a vital part of Hong Kong's dining culture. Its place in the city's food scene has led to collaborations with airlines, as well as make-up, chips and beer brands. TamJai SamGor offers Yunnan-style rice noodles and diners can select their toppings, noodle type and – perhaps most importantly – a soup base that meets their desired spice level. The chain operates under two brands – TamJai SamGor and TamJai Yunnan Mixian – but they split into different chains after a shareholder dispute, and were only reunited when both were bought by Japan's Toridoll in 2018. Most locals, however, still swear by one chain or the other. While the two offer very similar menus, TamJai SamGor carries a reputation for having a wider variety of soup bases – not only do they offer different levels of spice, but also multiple types of heat, such as hot and sour, numbing mala spice and aromatic charred pepper spice. Price: HK$45-60 for a bowl of noodles Locations across Hong Kong Tomato instant noodles at Sing Heung Yuen This dai pai dong (a local open-air food stall) is known for its vibrantly red and flavourful tomato broth instant noodles, attracting queues of tourists and locals alike. Customise it to your liking by choosing your desired toppings, such as the popular fried egg and luncheon meat or sliced beef. While instant noodles are great at soaking up the broth and adding a fattiness that balances the tomato broth's acidity, you can also swap out the noodles for macaroni – the hollow centre provides more sauce-trapping opportunities. Be sure to add a side of toast with condensed milk and a glass of iced milk tea for the ultimate sweet and savoury combo.
South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
How Hong Kong firms are tapping the rising global demand for halal food products
Hong Kong food producers are capitalising on the growing demand for halal cuisine, with some firms developing certified pre-packed products for tourists in the city and Chinese restaurants in the Middle East. Advertisement Some industry insiders told the Post recently that the current number of halal-certified restaurants was still falling short of meeting local demand. 'We have seen a rapid growth in halal certification applications in recent years,' Leo Yuen Chung-on, the founding chairman of the Hong Kong Food Science and Technology Association, said last Friday. 'But it's far from meeting the existing demand, especially during Muslim holidays when there is a surge in tourists from Muslim countries and local Muslims go out for celebrations.' Hong Kong is pursuing new sources of inbound tourists, including those from the Middle East, to help boost its economy. Advertisement To promote halal certification among restaurants, the Hong Kong Tourism Board partnered with the Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong to encourage applications as part of government efforts to diversify visitor sources.
