Can India and Myanmar Build a Rare Earth Supply Chain Independent of China?

Long Known for Narcotics, Southeast Asia's Golden Triangle Is Becoming a Major Rare Earth Hub for China

China-backed rare earth mining in Myanmar's Kachin and Shan states is reshaping regional geopolitics as China, India, and the United States compete for influence.

The hidden cost of Myanmar’s rare earth mines

The hidden cost of Myanmar’s rare earth mines As the U.S. races to bypass China, the global hunger for critical minerals is financing warlords and poisoning Myanmar’s borderlands. Grist / Machya; Getty Images By EMILY FISHBEIN + and JAUMAN NAW + 23 JULY 2026TRANSLATE This story was originally published by Grist, produced in partnership with the Pulitzer Center’s Rainforest Investigations Network,...

Can India and Myanmar Build a Rare Earth Supply Chain Independent of China?

It cannot be overemphasized that the greatest value in the rare earth supply chain does not lie in commodity chemicals, but in the accumulated capability to transform those chemicals into reliable industrial production. This is the key factor to understand when addressing the question, “Can India supplant China as the main customer for Myanmar’s ionic adsorption clay derived rare earths? The post Can India and Myanmar Build a Rare Earth Supply C…