CHINA/DEFENSE/MILITARY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The Pentagon released a report Friday [10-5-18] accusing China of seeking to undermine the US military’s industrial base, the latest in a series of US jabs at Beijing…The study, mandated by US President Donald Trump last year in an executive order, identified nearly 300 ‘vulnerabilities’ that could affect the supply of critical materials and other supplies essential to support the United States military. One of the most pressing concerns is Beijing’s control over the supply of critical technologies and materials, which could pose a significant risk to US industries that are vital to national security, the report said…China controls the vast majority of the world’s rare earths materials that are used to produce high-tech defense equipment. The US did not mine any rare earths domestically in 2017, instead importing an estimated $150 million, according to the United States Geological Survey. Analysts in Washington have long warned that Beijing could exploit the US military and defense manufacturers’ reliance on China, which from 2013 to 2016, accounted for 78% of all rare earth imports into the US.”
–Joshua Berlinger and Ryan Browne, “Pentagon report accuses China of trying to undermine US defense industry,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, October 4, 2018 2:22 pm