Chinese premier tours rare earths production hub amid rising US tech rivalry

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by Frank ChenFebruary 12, 2026 at 12:00 PM

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Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited Ganzhou, a major rare earth production hub, this week as China prepares its next five-year plan. He emphasized the importance of consolidating China's strength in traditional industries like rare earths while also pursuing innovation in areas like AI. The visit highlights the strategic importance of rare earths, essential for high-tech industries, amid ongoing trade and technology competition with the United States. Li toured mineral producers and met with business leaders, noting rare earths' value in advanced manufacturing. This comes as the US is actively working to reduce its reliance on China for rare earth minerals, including hosting a meeting with over 50 countries to discuss alternative supply chains.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Chinese Academy of Sciences 80% Ganjiang Innovation Academy 80% United States ×2100% Li Qiang ×2100% Jiangxi 100% Ganzhou 100% China ×4100%

Keywords

rare earths 100% us-china tech rivalry 90% critical minerals 80% supply chain 70% artificial intelligence 60% strategic resource 50% advanced manufacturing 50% li qiang 40%