2y ago

CSIS now says that China’s control over gallium is a national security threat for US

features.csis.org Mineral Monopoly: China’s Control over Gallium Is a National Security Threat

China has secured a virtual monopoly over gallium, a critical mineral used to produce microchips in advanced military technologies. Failing to de-risk gallium supply chains could have serious security and economic consequences for the United States and its allies.

Plays stupid games, win stupid prizes as the saying goes.

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2y ago

CSIS now says that China’s control over gallium is a national security threat for US

features.csis.org /hiddenreach/china-critical-mineral-gallium/

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47 comments

Plays stupid games, win stupid prizes as the saying goes.
Oh no, what will the US do? I mean, apart from producing it domestically or sourcing it from other counties because it's not a particularly rare element and the refinement process uses waste from things like aluminum smelting.
- Sure, a few decades later US may figure out all the tech needed to mine and refine gallium, develop mines, build refineries, train workers, and so on. In the meantime, Chinese companies will be dominating the tech market while western companies starve.
  
  We actually produce gallium in the US already, the technology for refining it is well established, and you don't actually mine it directly because it doesn't really occur by itself - it's commonly derived in bauxite, which is mined for it's aluminum content, which I why I mentioned waste products form aluminum refinement, because that's the most common source for industrial production. Also, other countries can do this, too
  But, sure.

As a Canadian, this was not the CSIS I was expecting.
- Same, they're stealing our acronyms!
  
  Acronym Monopoly: the Center for Strategic & International Studies' control over CSIS is a national security threat for Canada.

Aside from the issue, the web (mobile) layout is quite interesting and most advanced I've come across. At first I thought it was a bug in the web design, but once I realised how it works, I started to enjoy the reading as it was quite engaging.

The DOD is already concluded that this won't make a difference in gallium imports.
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3227967/us-expected-get-around-chinas-export-controls-gallium-essential-component-american-military-radar
- best of luck to them
  
  Doubt they need luck.

47 comments