Recently, the Eastern powers have dealt a beautiful heavy blow to the economic hegemony of the United States!

On December 2nd, the United States revised the new Export Administration Regulations and upgraded its semiconductor sanctions against China. The next day, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce issued a notice to strengthen export controls on dual-use items such as gallium, germanium, and antimony to the United States.

This counterattack is not only a direct response to the unreasonable suppression by the United States, but also a firm voice from China on the international stage: China’s legitimate right to development cannot be violated!

Sanctions are intensifying and pressing step by step.

In recent years, the US government has continuously tightened its export controls on China, increasing restrictions on exports to China in the semiconductor field. By issuing “chip bans” and manipulating “physical lists,” it has disrupted trade order and affected supply chain stability.

This time, the United States has included 140 Chinese semiconductor companies in the “Entity List”, which is the largest number and scale of companies involved since the implementation of semiconductor sanctions against China.

The US Department of Commerce has made no secret that this policy adjustment is aimed at curbing China’s independent research and development of advanced technology, delaying the development of China’s artificial intelligence, and weakening China’s indigenous advanced semiconductor ecosystem.

It can be seen that the United States, in order to maintain its global economic hegemony in the digital age, has seriously infringed upon China’s legitimate development interests. From initially creating technological barriers, to using a “physical list,” and then crazily containing and suppressing the entire industry chain, it has built a “big iron curtain” to comprehensively block China!

Take advantage of the situation and retaliate with a heavy punch.

China’s strengthening of export controls on dual-use items such as gallium, germanium, and antimony to the United States is a powerful response to the current round of sanctions imposed by the United States.

This action demonstrates to the international community that any country using export controls to suppress China will inevitably retaliate and defend its legitimate interests.

So, why are dual-use items such as gallium, germanium, and antimony so important to the United States?
Dual use items refer to products or technologies that can be used for both civilian and military purposes. These types of items can not only facilitate technological innovation, but also play a role in the military field, so countries usually strictly control exports.
Gallium and germanium in semiconductors.
Gallium and germanium are key raw materials for semiconductor chips, optical fibers, solar cells, and other products.
Gallium is currently one of the most scarce metal elements in the world. According to statistics, the total production of gallium metal in the world in 2020 was 300 tons, with China’s production reaching as high as 290 tons, accounting for 96% of the global production.
Meanwhile, China is also one of the world’s largest producers and suppliers of germanium. In 2023, China’s germanium production will account for 68% of the world’s total, with a market share of approximately 80%.
The United States and Japan are respectively the top two consumer markets for gallium metal in the world, and the consumption of gallium in the European Union is also high.

Antimony in military weapons.
Antimony is mainly used in ammunition, infrared missiles, nuclear weapons, night vision devices, as well as batteries and photovoltaic systems.
According to relevant data released in 2023, China’s antimony reserves are 1.8 million tons, accounting for 29.5% of the global total; With a production capacity of 60000 tons, accounting for 48.12% of the global total, it is the world’s largest producer of antimony.

In contrast, there are no antimony resources within the United States, and only Australia has a small reserve among its major allies.
The US Defense Strategy report points out that once China cuts off the supply of antimony resources to the United States, there will be a shortage of antimony resources as early as 2025.
The ‘omnipotent king’ graphite.
Graphite is a key raw material in various fields such as metallurgy, electrical industry, machinery industry, new energy, military industry, aerospace, etc.
In 2023, China’s natural graphite production will be approximately 1.2 million tons, accounting for 77% of the global total. In terms of processing, China has over 90% of the world’s spherical graphite processing capacity and 85% of the negative electrode material processing capacity.
Both in terms of graphite production and processing capacity, China dominates the world.
Industrial teeth are made of superhard materials.
Superhard materials usually refer to materials such as tungsten and diamond.
Tungsten, as a strategic metal, is also known as the “industrial tooth”. Due to its high hardness and melting point, tungsten metal is widely used in various military equipment, including tanks, missiles, aircraft engines, and armor piercing shells, and can be called the “king of war metals”.
China is a major producer of tungsten, controlling over 80% of the global supply, while the United States has long relied on imports from China.
It can be seen that the Ministry of Commerce is targeting key parts of the US supply chain this time, and its countermeasures against the US are stable, accurate, and ruthless.

Accurately grasp, choke and beautify the throat.
Stuck the neck of the US military manufacturing industry.
Rare materials such as gallium and germanium play a significant role in the military manufacturing industry in the United States. Without rare materials, American industry and high-end manufacturing will find it difficult to move forward.
It is reported that the delayed delivery of the F-35 fighter jet is due to the United States’ lack of trace elements.
At the same time, 80% of the rare metal materials in the US military industrial complex heavily rely on China’s exports. From cutting-edge radar to stealth fighter jets, from cruise missiles to precision guided weapons, the US’s high-end military equipment relies on Chinese resources.
Once China cuts off its supply, the US military will face a shortage of 69 strategic materials, with inventory barely supporting 40% of demand, and the defense industry will suffer a heavy blow.
Impact the global competitiveness of the US semiconductor industry.

The semiconductor industry in the United States is highly dependent on the global supply chain.

As China gradually strengthens its control over key semiconductor raw materials such as gallium and germanium, the channels for American semiconductor companies to obtain raw materials will be restricted to some extent, resulting in a significant increase in their production costs.

In this way, the high-tech industry in the United States will face dual pressures of production and research and development, thereby weakening its competitiveness in the global semiconductor market.

At the same time as implementing countermeasures against the United States, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce also made it clear that China will continue to support high-level opening up to the outside world.
It is the United States that takes the lead, China responds later. We do not cause trouble, but we are never afraid of it.
This demonstrates China’s role and demeanor as a major country in safeguarding its legitimate development rights, opposing economic hegemony, and actively assuming the responsibility of maintaining international industrial ecological stability.
I advise those anti China politicians in the United States who are showing off their teeth and claws: if they want win-win cooperation, they should show their attitude; If you want to suppress and contain, we will accompany you to the end!