---
title: No rare earths = no fighter jets = no modern war machine.
description: "The U.S. remains heavily dependent on China for critical rare-earth materials, with roughly 70% of rare-earth imports coming from China.\n\nAnd Beijing has increasingly demonstrated its willingness to restrict exports of strategic minerals.\n\nThe vulnerability goes far beyond fighter jets.\n\nRare earths and related critical minerals are essential for missiles, radar systems, drones, satellites, precision-guided weapons, submarines and advanced electronics.\n\nIf inventories are already tight, a prolonged disruption in Chinese supply could become a serious bottleneck for U.S. defense production.\n\nThat creates a striking strategic paradox:\n\nAmerica's military-industrial base still depends, in part, on supply chains dominated by its biggest geopolitical rival.\n\nChina doesn't necessarily need to fire a shot to exert pressure.\n\nSometimes the most powerful weapon is controlling what your opponent needs to keep fighting.\n\nSun Tzu would understand the strategy.\n\nSource: Lukas Ekwueme"
---

[Syz The Moment](https://blog.syzgroup.com/syz-the-moment)

# [No rare earths = no fighter jets = no modern war machine.](https://blog.syzgroup.com/syz-the-moment/no-rare-earths-no-fighter-jets-no-modern-war-machine)

 Written by [Charles-Henry Monchau, CFA, CMT, CAIA](https://blog.syzgroup.com/syz-the-moment/author/charles-henry-monchau) | Aug 13, 2026, 2:43:59 PM

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