CSIS Report Highlights China's Critical Minerals Acquisitions, Urges U.S. and Allies to Act
A report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), authored by critical minerals expert Gracelin Baskaran, highlights the aggressive pace at which Chinese firms are acquiring critical minerals projects globally. In 2024, Chinese companies completed over 10 significant transactions, each exceeding $100 million, marking the busiest year for Chinese overseas mining investments in over a decade. This trend underscores China's strategic efforts to secure mineral resources essential for future industrial and geopolitical competition. The report emphasizes that Western countries, including the U.S., often become aware of these acquisitions only when they are nearly finalized, leaving little room for intervention. Baskaran suggests that the West lacks a comprehensive, real-time registry of critical mineral assets, which limits their ability to compete effectively. 
