NioCorp notes China retaliation restricting rare earth minerals exports

China retaliated against the U.S. and allied nations by restricting the export of highly strategic Chinese-made rare earths, critical minerals that are needed in virtually all U.S. defense systems and across the electronics, manufacturing, high-technology, transportation, and energy sectors. The implications for U.S. national security are dire, according to NioCorp (NB) Developments CEO Mark Smith. “This is a precision strike by China against Pentagon supply chains that enable our most powerful weapons and defense systems, from stealth fighters and precision-guided munitions to satellite systems and hypersonic weapons,” according to Mr. Smith. “The U.S. has long known that it walks a fine line by relying so heavily on China for rare earths. With this new move, Beijing is jamming its fingers on the pressure points of American deterrence. These aren’t just metals-they’re bottleneck elements, and without them, much of the Pentagon’s advanced hardware risks slipping from superiority to obsolescence. This is not a mere supply chain hiccup, it’s a geopolitical earthquake in slow motion. Every fighter jet delayed, every missile contract disrupted, every paused satellite payload becomes a ripple in America’s strategic posture. And with Russia and China tightening coordination, this may mark the start of a material cold war fought not with tanks, but with export licenses and embargoes,”