Backed by West, Brazil Joins Race to Challenge China’s Dominance in Rare Earth Industry

Backed by Western investment and expertise, Brazil has become the latest country to join the U.S.-led push to break China’s dominance in the global rare earth sector, opening up the first of several planned mines set to tap its rare earth reserves. Coupled with expanded investment and cooperation in rare earth exploration and development by countries such as Australia, the United States, Japan, Vietnam, and others, China observers say that the Chinese communist regime is losing its leverage in geopolitics and its competition with the West. In March, the Australian government announced an investment of 840 million Australian dollars (about $560 million) in the first combined rare earth mine and refinery run by Arafura Rare Earths in northern Australia....