‘Quad' nations announce critical minerals initiative amid China concerns
In a joint statement released after a summit hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Tuesday, the four Indo-Pacific countries announced the launching of the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, which they called 'an ambitious expansion' of the partnership that will 'strengthen economic security and collective resilience by collaborating to secure and diversify critical minerals supply chains.'
Rubio said the plans would allow 'not just access to the raw material but also access to the ability to process and refine it to usable material.'
'It's critical for all technologies and for all industries across the board,' he said. 'So having a diverse and reliable global supply chain of these is just one example of many that we can focus on and build upon and achieve some real progress on.'
According to a fact sheet outlining this and other measures from the meeting, the new critical minerals tie-up aims to strengthen cooperation on 'securing and diversifying reliable supply chains, and electronic waste (e-waste) critical minerals recovery and re-processing.' Quad members are also planning to coordinate with private sector partners 'to facilitate increased investments.'
Quad nations share concerns over China's virtual monopoly on a number of key minerals, including rare earths crucial for electric vehicles, drones and semiconductors, as well as for weapons such as fighter jets and missiles.
According to the International Energy Agency, China is estimated to account for about 62% of global rare earth production and 92% of their processing.
Highlighting the Quad's concerns, Beijing recently sought to use restrictions on the minerals as leverage in the U.S.-China trade war, a lesson the Asian behemoth also foisted upon Tokyo in 2010 following a maritime clash near the Japanese-controlled, Chinese-claimed Senkaku Islands.
While there were few other details on the new initiative, the four countries made it clear during the meeting that one goal was to reduce their dependence on Beijing.
'We are deeply concerned about the abrupt constriction and future reliability of key supply chains, specifically for critical minerals.This includes the use of non-market policies and practices for critical minerals, certain derivative products, and mineral processing technology,' top Quad diplomats said in a joint statement carefully crafted not to directly mention China.
'Reliance on any one country for processing and refining critical minerals and derivative goods production exposes our industries to economic coercion, price manipulation, and supply chain disruptions, which further harms our economic and national security,' it added.
Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya speaks during a meeting of top diplomats from "the Quad," as Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (left), Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong (second left) and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stand together at the start of talks at the State Department in Washington on Tuesday. |
REUTERS
In welcoming his Quad counterparts, Rubio touted the grouping as a 'very important partnership,' but urged more 'concrete actions' on key issues.
This, however, could prove to be a challenge.
All three U.S. partners in the Quad — including allies Japan and Australia — are grappling with how best to respond to President Donald Trump's onerous tariff campaign. Those trade moves, as well as Trump's perceived lack of focus on the Indo-Pacific region, have unnerved Quad leaders.
The Trump administration has also triggered unease in Tokyo and Canberra with its demands that both countries ramp up defense spending. Washington has also raised eyebrows about its regional commitment by announcing a review of its AUKUS security partnership with Australia and Britain.
Trump has singled out competition with China as a key focus of his administration, but, in the first six months of his presidency, domestic rows, conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East and rising trade tensions have consumed much of its attention.
Asked about Washington's stance on the Indo-Pacific, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said the U.S. is 'unwavering' in its commitment to the region, pointing to Rubio's move to hold a first meeting of the Quad foreign affairs chiefs just an hour after being sworn into office in January.
'By holding this meeting again in person ... we were able to demonstrate to the international community the strength and importance of the Quad,' Iwaya said, adding that the meeting 'laid the groundwork for the success of this year's Quad leaders' summit.'
The meeting did see the U.S. stand by long-held positions on a number of regional concerns — at least on paper.
In their joint statement, the four countries reiterated boilerplate language, voicing "serious concerns regarding dangerous and provocative actions" in the South and East China seas that they said "threaten peace and stability in the region." They also reiterated a 'steadfast commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific' and 'defending the rule of law, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,' while pledging to 'strongly oppose any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion.'
In a win for Japan, the four also condemned North Korea's missile and nuclear weapons program, reaffirming their commitment to the 'complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula' and cooperation on 'the immediate resolution' of the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korean agents in the 1970s and 1980s, according to the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo.
A Quad leaders' summit is scheduled to be held later this year in India, while Australia will host the grouping's next meeting of top diplomats in 2026.
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