[hn_throwaway_99]

> Anyway I'd say the "spice" in semiconductor production is rare earth elements, since the CCP controls most of their extraction

That's really only because of other countries outsourcing to China and not supporting domestic mining. There is no shortage of rare earths in other countries.

[hajile]

That's very true. European countries "go green" by exporting their mining pollution to China. They can then blame China for all the pollution problems.

Brilliant really. Get political points for "lowering emissions", then double dip getting more points for "being hard on China" while at the same time not hugely affecting the economy, jobs, or ticking off industrialists.