*China-Backed Militia Takes Charge Of New Rare Earth Mines In Myanmar* A militia supported by China is guarding newly established rare earth mines in eastern Myanmar, according to four sources familiar with the situation. This move reflects Beijing’s efforts to tighten its control over the crucial minerals it is leveraging in its trade dispute with Washington. China has a near-monopoly over the processing of heavy rare earths into magnets that power critical goods like wind turbines, medical devices and electric vehicles. But Beijing is heavily reliant on Myanmar for the rare earth metals and oxides needed to produce them: the war-torn country was the source of nearly half those imports in the first four months of this year, Chinese customs data show. 🔗 https://stratnewsglobal.com/myanmar/china-backed-militia-takes-charge-of-new-rare-earth-mines-in-myanmar/