China’s 🇨🇳 control over critical minerals is the most underappreciated force reshaping the technology and geopolitics landscape—and it impacts every part of the $5.3 trillion technology industry.
40 years ago, China was largely dismissed as a low-cost manufacturing hub. Today, it is the backbone of the world’s clean energy transition and a dominant force in every electronics supply chain, not only as the world’s factory but as the gatekeeper of the foundational elements powering modern tech.
China’s industrial policy quietly shifted from being a buyer of raw materials to becoming the world’s top producer and processor.
As the the western world was mass-consuming low cost products, we were funding this stealth (and brilliant) transformation.
China integrated mining, refining, and manufacturing into a fully coordinated national strategy. Through long-term infrastructure investments, joint ventures, and outright ownership of mines across Africa, South America, and Asia, China secured access to over 60% of global rare earth production and built processing facilities that now handle more than 80% of the world’s output.
Critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements used in EV batteries, wind turbines, semiconductors, AI servers, 5G telco, and defense systems all flow through Chinese-controlled supply chains.
At a partner ecosystem level, this presents both risk and opportunity. Supply chain diversification, onshore production, and mineral recycling—all now high strategic priorities among Western governments—open new pathways for distributors, integrators, and MSPs to help clients assess and mitigate risk.
The same intelligence models partners have adopted for SaaS visibility and cybersecurity are now needed for physical supply chain transparency.
Just as China redefined itself from a manufacturing economy to a mineral-backed superpower, our industry must evolve from short-term technology transactions to ecosystem-driven strategic advisory.
The winners will be those who see beyond the product and into the raw minerals powering the infrastructure behind powerful platforms.
