China's security ministry raises rare earth concerns via comic strip
text_fields
Beijing: China's State Security Ministry has taken an unusual approach to highlight perceived threats to the country's rare earths by using a comic strip.
Shared on the ministry's official WeChat account, the comic strip depicts foreign-looking characters engaging in what appears to be covert extraction of rare earths. This creative narrative unfolds as security officers uncover "suspicious" activities related to exploration and mapping, disguised as survey work for real estate development.
Published on Sunday, the comic strip refrains from explicitly naming any foreign governments or agencies involved in the perceived threat to China's rare earths. Additionally, the State Security Ministry has not specified any particular measures to counteract the foreign "interest" in these strategic metals.
Rare earths - a group of 17 metallic elements - are critical components in various high-tech applications, including electronics, renewable energy, and defense technologies. They have high melting and boiling points.
As a major global supplier of rare earths, China has expressed concerns about potential disruptions to its supply chain. The use of a comic strip by the State Security Ministry signals a unique approach to communicating these concerns to the public.
The narrative in the comic strip revolves around security officers discovering "suspicious" exploration and mapping activities. The individuals involved are portrayed as conducting survey work for real estate development, masking their true intentions. However, the comic does not explicitly identify the nature of the foreign entities involved or the specific threat they pose to China's rare earths.
Despite the lack of detailed information in the comic strip, its publication on an official government platform indicates a desire to draw attention to what China perceives as a threat to its rare earth resources. Rare earths have gained significance due to their role in various technological advancements, and concerns about their secure supply have grown in recent years.