China’s Foreign Ministry fired back at the G7 on June 18, defending its export controls on critical minerals as fully compliant with international norms. The response came just one day after G7 leaders, meeting at their summit in Evian, France, announced plans to collectively reduce their dependence on any single country for rare earth elements and magnets.
The target: no more than 60% of imports from one nation by 2030, with an aspirational goal of reaching 50% as soon as possible. The unnamed single country in question is, of course, China.
What China actually said
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian framed China’s export restrictions as tools for maintaining peace, stability, and non-proliferation compliance.
Lin also urged G7 nations to uphold market economy principles rather than forming what he called “small cliques.”
