On July 18, the Ministry of State Security published an article titled “Key Point! It’s Not Ordinary Soil”, with the full text as follows:
Rare earth-related items have dual-use military and civilian attributes and are national strategic resources. To better safeguard national security and interests, China has drawn on international practices and implemented export controls on rare earth-related items in accordance with the law. However, in recent years, foreign intelligence agencies and their proxies have attempted to collude with and induce domestic bad actors to steal rare earth-related items through logistics channels, posing serious threats to China’s national security.
Illegal Theft, Resolutely Blocked
A certain country cannot independently produce or refine rare metals but has been hoarding them through various channels to ensure its domestic supply. The national security agency discovered that a contractor in a key sector of this country has, on one hand, repackaged and falsified labels as “non-China origin” to smuggle rare earths to its domestic market through transshipment. On the other hand, they have attempted to illegally export China’s rare earth and other controlled items by misreporting content components, falsifying product names, using multiple small express packages, and switching transportation channels. After obtaining solid evidence, the national security agency, in collaboration with relevant departments, took legal action to block the illegal export channels for rare earth-related items, effectively safeguarding China’s resource and national security.
Collusion and Evolving Tactics
Rare earths, known as “industrial gold” and the “mother of new materials,” position China at the forefront globally in terms of reserves, production, consumption, and exports, forming a resource and industrial chain advantage. Certain countries closely monitor China’s supply of rare earth-related items and go to great lengths to engage in theft activities.
— Falsifying Product Names to Evade Detection
Investigations revealed that foreign intelligence agencies and their proxies have instigated domestic bad actors to conceal components and smuggle rare earths through China’s logistics channels. For instance, they misreport rare earths as non-controlled items, forge technical specifications or component content, and declare high-purity rare earths (such as dysprosium and terbium) as low-value products (e.g., iron alloys or nickel powder) or common goods like “solder paste” or “refractory materials” to evade export controls.
— Hiding Contraband to Deceive
Investigations found that foreign intelligence agencies and their proxies have instructed domestic bad actors to hide undeclared rare earth-related items within other legitimately declared goods or transportation tools. For example, rare earth raw materials are processed into primary products, rare earth powders are mixed with tile raw materials, or concealed in plastic models or mineral water bottles, and then smuggled out under vague labels such as alloy components or mechanical parts.
National Security Agency Reminder
The national security agency is deeply committed to the comprehensive national security concept, prioritizing the safeguarding of national security in the critical mineral resources sector as a key task. In collaboration with relevant departments, it legally prevents and combats infiltration, sabotage, and theft activities by foreign intelligence agencies and their proxies targeting China’s critical mineral resources, resolutely protecting national security. The public is encouraged to remain vigilant in daily life and report any suspicious activities threatening the security of critical mineral resources promptly through the 12339 national security agency reporting hotline, the online reporting platform (www.12339.gov.cn), the Ministry of State Security’s WeChat public account, or directly to local national security agencies, to collectively build a strong barrier for safeguarding national security.
Source: Ministry of State Security WeChat Public Account
