A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) on Thursday reaffirmed Beijing’s “zero-tolerance” policy toward the smuggling and illegal export of strategic minerals, underscoring heightened national security risks and rising threats of technology leaks.
At a regular press briefing, MOFCOM spokesperson He Yadong revealed that Chinese authorities have made significant progress over the past two months by cracking down on illegal activities involving strategic minerals. Multiple smuggling suspects have been apprehended, and several export cases investigated, resulting in what officials described as a strong deterrent effect.
Despite this progress, He warned that the situation remains “complex and serious,” with some actors attempting to bypass existing regulatory controls and evade detection. This includes increasing risks of sensitive technologies being transferred through illegal outflows.
To strengthen oversight, Chinese authorities will establish a Joint Law Enforcement Coordination Center focused on the export control of dual-use items. Additionally, they plan to publish notable enforcement and judicial cases, and expand the export control list to include illegal foreign entities.
The renewed crackdown follows a key meeting on July 19 in Nanning, Guangxi, led by the Office of the National Export Control Coordination Mechanism and relevant departments. The session served as an interim review of a special operation launched in May in Shenzhen, which was designed to tackle mineral smuggling and tighten export regulations.
Authorities also announced plans to issue guidelines for compliant exports of strategic minerals. These will help ensure exporters perform thorough due diligence and verify that the materials are not diverted for military use or to military end-users.
He Yadong emphasized that Beijing will maintain a high-pressure stance and continue strengthening interdepartmental coordination to uphold national security and prevent strategic resources from falling into the wrong hands.
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