China accounts for 90% of the global production of rare earth magnets - this has created a significant strategic vulnera

David Shaul's article in "The National Interest" magazine hits a core fact: China indeed dominates the rare earth industry, especially in processing and magnet production. Approximately 90% of rare earth magnets come from China - the bottleneck for electric vehicles, wind turbines, defense systems, and semiconductors. The reminder that China banned the export of rare earths to Japan in 2010 is historically accurate, and the risk of China taking further action remains credible. Similarly, emphasizing the partnership between the US Department of Defense and MP Materials Corporation is based on facts; this project does aim to rebuild domestic capabilities.

The claim that Ford Motor Company "had to temporarily close a factory in Chicago in April 2025 due to a shortage of rare earth magnets" is worth examining. Although the Rare Earth Exchange (REEx) reported some effects - possibly a slowdown - we cannot be certain of a complete shutdown. We do not have independent evidence to confirm this situation. Although US manufacturers are undoubtedly facing supply gaps, regarding it as a direct consequence of China's embargo might exaggerate the existing evidence.

The author vividly and almost existentialistically depicts the vulnerability of the United States: China is "the most significant national security threat", and rare earths are "weapons waiting to be unleashed". Although Shaul's article is somewhat sharp, it emphasizes a key theme: The United States still lags far behind China in rare earth smelting, magnet production, and midstream production capacity. Any escalation of the trade war could affect the automotive, defense, and clean energy sectors.