Editor's note: Imran Khalid, a special commentator for CGTN, is a freelance columnist on international affairs. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

China's recently announced export controls on rare earth elements and associated technologies are not a barrier to commerce, but an effort to fortify the integrity of global supply chains. The control of exports of medium and heavy rare earths alongside related equipment, superhard materials and battery components establishes a licensing framework to verify end-use compliance, ensuring that these vital resources do not fuel conflict or proliferation. As the world grapples with supply disruptions from wars and economic rivalries, Beijing's approach underscores a commitment to responsible stewardship, prioritizing dialogue over division.

Rare earths, those 17 metallic elements essential to everything from electric vehicles to defense systems, have long anchored China's position as their preeminent processor and supplier. In the first eight months of 2025, their exports climbed 14.5 percent year on year to 44,355 metric tons, according to the General Administration of Customs of China.

Without oversight, unchecked flow of these materials risks exacerbating military escalations, particularly given their applications in precision-guided munitions and advanced electronics. China's controls serve as a bulwark against such perils, aligning with international norms on non-proliferation and regional peace.

On the other hand, Washington's latest salvos offer a sharp contrast. Soon after Chinese and American delegations convened in Madrid to hold trade talks in September, the U.S. unveiled plans for a 100 percent tariff on Chinese imports, coupled with sweeping export restrictions on critical software, effective November 1.

These contradictory moves, announced by the White House on October 11, follow a pattern of unilateral actions that stretch the "national security" pretext. From semiconductor curbs to investment barriers, the pattern reveals a reliance on coercive tools that are unsettling markets and eroding trust.

This oscillation, from escalation to fleeting pauses and back to aggression, undermines the predictability essential for long-term pacts between the globe's two largest economies. Businesses on both sides are bearing the brunt of instability.

Before China announced the regulatory controls, global rare earth commerce operated in a regulatory vacuum, prone to exploitation. By introducing verifiable pathways, China has recalibrated the field, imposing compliance, particularly for entities engaged in military pursuits. This diminishes worldwide security threats rather than amplifying them.

The measures have a precedent: the United States' regulations on the export of chips on the ground that dual-use technologies warrant scrutiny. But Beijing, unlike Washington, has been more considerate. It sent prior notifications to its partners via bilateral channels and an invitation to deepen multilateral exchanges.

American outlets report that China's restrictions could impact American defense procurement, which relies on rare earths for its fighter jets and radar systems. However, this vulnerability is not due to Beijing's policies, but Washington's failure to diversify even as it seeks to keep a chokehold on its own exports.

Fortune magazine observed that the controls empower China to withhold supplies from any nation, a leverage born of necessity in an era of frequent sanctions. Al Jazeera and The Guardian echoed China's response that these are lawful calibrations, not aggressions, and any retaliation by the U.S. would only compound mutual harm.

This latest episode exposes the fragility of a trade architecture strained by protectionism. China has said its position on the trade war is consistent: “We do not want it, but we are not afraid of it." This echoes a consistent stance: Resolve disputes through equitable consultation, not threats. Looking ahead, the path forward hinges on reciprocity. True progress demands moving beyond tariff theatrics to substantive accords that honor shared vulnerabilities.

Ultimately, China's rare earth initiative embodies a vision of trade as a force for equilibrium, not enmity. By embedding compliance into commerce, Beijing is not only shielding its own interests but elevating global standards. As conflicts rage worldwide, the imperative for steady resource flows grows ever more pressing. Washington would do well to heed this cue, channeling energies toward collaboration rather than containment.

In an interconnected age, the security of one is entwined with all; to sever those threads invites peril for everyone. Through measured steps and open channels, the two powers can chart a course toward enduring partnership, one that benefits both countries.

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