BEIJING: China has dismissed as baseless and misleading the media reports claiming that Pakistan sent rare earth mineral samples to the United States.
Beijing asserted that cooperation between Pakistan and the US in the mining sector will never harm China’s interests or affect the strong Pak-China partnership.
During a regular press briefing on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian clarified the matter in response to a question about reports alleging that Pakistan had used Chinese technology to send rare minerals to the US. He called such reports “groundless, misleading, and an attempt to sow discord” between the two friendly nations.
Lin explained that the samples shown by Pakistan’s leadership to American officials were actually precious stones purchased within Pakistan, not rare earth minerals.
He emphasised that these reports were either fabricated or deliberately misleading, aimed at undermining the trusted ties between China and Pakistan.
The spokesperson confirmed that China and Pakistan remain in close communication regarding Islamabad’s mining cooperation with Washington.
He said Pakistan has assured China that its partnership with the US in this sector will not harm Chinese interests or the broader Pak-China cooperation framework.
Addressing China’s recent export restrictions, Lin clarified that Beijing’s new curbs on rare earth minerals and related technologies have no connection to Pakistan. He described the move as a legitimate step by the Chinese government to enhance its export control mechanisms and fulfil international obligations.
Reaffirming the depth of bilateral ties, Lin said China and Pakistan are “all-weather strategic partners” whose ironclad friendship has withstood the test of time. He added that both nations maintain high-level strategic trust and close coordination on all issues concerning their core interests.
The clarification came after several reports claimed that Pakistan had exported rare earth minerals and other precious metals to U.S. Strategic Metals, a company based in Missouri.
Meanwhile, China announced on October 10 a major expansion of its export restrictions on rare earth materials and related technologies. The new measures—effective November 8, just two days before the current U.S.-China trade agreement expires—cover the export of rare earth separation and refining technologies, synthetic diamond powder, single crystals, diamond wire, and related materials.
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Currently, China controls over 60% of global rare earth production, refines nearly 70% of the world’s lithium and cobalt, and supplies over 90% of battery-grade graphite, giving it a dominant position in high-tech manufacturing and defence industries.
