AsianFin -- A militia aligned with Beijing is safeguarding newly discovered rare earth mines in eastern Myanmar, according to four people familiar with the situation, as China seeks to shore up access to critical minerals amid escalating trade tensions with the U.S.

China dominates the global supply chain for heavy rare earth processing — essential for manufacturing permanent magnets used in wind turbines, electric vehicles, and medical equipment. However, it remains heavily dependent on Myanmar for raw material inputs. Nearly half of China’s rare earth metal and oxide imports came from Myanmar during the first four months of 2025, according to Chinese customs data.

That reliance has come under pressure following the loss of control over key mining areas in northern Myanmar. A major rare earth belt in the region was recently seized by an armed faction opposed to the country’s military junta, which has received consistent backing from Beijing. The disruption has constricted China’s access to minerals such as dysprosium and terbium — both critical for high-performance magnet production.

China’s move to support militia forces securing new deposits in eastern Myanmar signals a shift in strategy, as it looks to regain control of rare earth flows that underpin both its economic ambitions and geopolitical leverage.