Ok, I looked again and the 80% figure is a bit a stretch compared to the initial formula, I can agree. I think it’s not just “China is mining these minerals” but “China is involved in the material chain at some point, through mining or refining or smelting or manufacturing or recycling” (with varying degrees of dependency). That could be where the 80% figure comes from. 100% is not realistic, but China’s share is the value chain is increasing.
But even if we were to stick to 50% of control as you suggest, or 60%, this would not change much of the issue that there is a lot of dependency, indeed. A lot of potential vulnerability would arise if China were to cut down some of its exports (whether voluntarily, or by accident, or because of a pandemic).
Ok, I looked again and the 80% figure is a bit a stretch compared to the initial formula, I can agree. I think it’s not just “China is mining these minerals” but “China is involved in the material chain at some point, through mining or refining or smelting or manufacturing or recycling” (with varying degrees of dependency). That could be where the 80% figure comes from. 100% is not realistic, but China’s share is the value chain is increasing.
But even if we were to stick to 50% of control as you suggest, or 60%, this would not change much of the issue that there is a lot of dependency, indeed. A lot of potential vulnerability would arise if China were to cut down some of its exports (whether voluntarily, or by accident, or because of a pandemic).