This is a weapon they have been staring at for decades.

From China’s weaponisation of rare earths is a new kind of trade war by Chris Miller 

Still, the most striking aspect of China’s weaponisation of rare earths is how unprepared western governments and companies were. Even those who cannot name a single rare earth element know that China dominates their production. Nevertheless, over the decade and a half since China first cut rare earth exports to Japan in 2011, the west has failed to find new suppliers. Some modest steps were taken. Korea expanded its stockpiles. Japan invested in Australian mines. Yet most western governments devised critical minerals strategies and then chose not to fund them. Manufacturers speak of resilience yet some keep only a week’s supply of rare earth magnets in their inventories. This is a weapon they have been staring at for decades. They should not have been surprised when Beijing finally pulled the trigger.