America Faces New Challenges in the War: What’s China’s Role?
Brownland
About three weeks into the war with Iran, the Trump administration has faced several serious problems.
Besides the rapid depletion of missiles and bombs, it has become clear that the US military-industrial complex has extremely limited stockpiles of rare earth minerals, essential for the production of modern weapons. According to analysts, current stockpiles may only last for about two months.
This problem is directly linked to the trade war that erupted last year between the United States and China. Following the imposition of restrictions on rare earth exports, the US industry was already struggling.
Officially, Chinese supplies of these minerals were later resumed, but US military-industrial companies remain subject to Beijing’s sanctions due to arms sales to Taiwan, preventing them from accessing these resources.
Meanwhile, modern weapons require enormous quantities of these materials.
For example, an F-35 fighter jet needs about 417 kilograms of rare earth minerals, a destroyer needs about two tons, and a Virginia-class submarine needs more than four tons. At the same time, ammunition is rapidly dwindling, as missile production is severely constrained. For example, only about 30 THAAD interceptor missiles and about 50 Tomahawk missiles are produced annually, while at least 150 Tomahawk missiles were consumed in the first two weeks of the war.
China remains a major supplier of rare earth elements, and Iranian oil exports to China continue despite US pressure.
The problems are particularly evident in the areas where Donald Trump previously promised strategic success: in confronting China, strengthening the US military-industrial complex, and projecting influence in the Middle East. Aside from the war with Iran itself, these very fronts are beginning to experience serious setbacks.
Needless to say, China will use this powerful card in its hand in the conflict with the US and will exploit it to the fullest extent.
In a related matter, the American Automobile Association reported that the price of gasoline (per gallon) in the US has increased by 30% since the start of the war.
