Why are US and China fighting to control this country near India, they are trying to find special…
News
Why are US and China fighting to control this country near India, they are trying to find special…
Why are US and China fighting to control this country near India, they are trying to find special…
In a massive fight, US and China are trying to control the critical metals of Myanmar essential for manufacturing advanced weapons and electronics.
China vs US
Amid the global aspiration to control the rare earth minerals of the world, a geopolitical tussle is brewing between the US and China in India's neighbourhood. In the recent tussle between China led by President Xi Jinping and the United States of America led by President Donald Trump, both the power-hungry countries are eying the rare earth minerals of Myanmar, the country which witnessed a military coup a few years back.
Why US and China are fighting in Myanmar?
Both US and China are trying to control the 17 critical metals that are essential for manufacturing advanced weapons and electronics. However, due to Myanmar's political instability and control of mining regions by ethnic rebel groups like the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the situation is quite complicated and the battle is expected to be tough.
How is US trying to capture Myanmar's resources?
As per media reports, the US is considering risky options, such as negotiating directly with the KIA or working through Myanmar's military, despite past sanctions and human rights concerns. Proposals also include reducing tariffs, appointing a special envoy, and acting as a mediator to secure access to the mines.
Readers should note that the currently ruling military government of Myanmar is backed by China and experts also warn of serious logistical and political obstacles, especially as China is likely to block any attempt to divert Myanmar's minerals to US or India.
China's control over global rare earth minerals
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), China controls 90% of global rare earth processing. Moreover, China is the largest producer and processor of these minerals and America wants to reduce its dependence on China. However, for the US, partnering with Myanmar would be a major shift, given past sanctions over military abuses and Rohingya violence. As per media reports, though some sanctions were recently lifted on Myanmar, officials say US policy remains largely unchanged in its policy on the country.
For breaking news and live news updates, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Read more on Latest World News on India.com.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
16 minutes ago
- Time of India
Brent crude oil may hit $80 per barrel: Indian refiners may struggle - how will unavailability of Russian oil impact prices?
Brent crude prices could climb to $80 per barrel in the coming months amid escalating tensions between the United States and Russia, predicts oil market analysts. The forecast came after US President Donald Trump issued a deadline for Russia to end the war in Ukraine, threatening additional sanctions and secondary tariffs of up to 100% on countries trading with Moscow. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now NS Ramaswamy, Head of Commodities & CRM at Ventura, said Brent Oil (Oct '25) has already moved up from $72.07 and may hit a short-term target of $76. "Year-end 2025 could see Brent at $80–82, with downside support and cap at $69," he added, reported ANI. Energy analyst Narendra Taneja said sharper price surge if Russian oil is removed from the global supply chain. Russia exports 5 million barrels of oil into the global supply system every day. Crude oil prices would rise significantly $100 to $120 per barrel, if the Russian oil is forced out of the global supply chains'. He added that while Indian refiners, which import crude from 40 different countries, may not face supply shortages, they would struggle to balance prices for consumers if Russian oil is no longer accessible. WTI Crude Oil (Sep '25), prices are currently around $69.65, with a short-term target of $73 and a year-end projection of $76–79. Downside support is pegged at $65. The potential for supply disruption comes at a time when global spare production capacity is limited. Experts say even if Saudi Arabia and other OPEC members increase output to bridge the gap, it will take time and may not be enough to avert short-term deficits. 'President Trump wants lower oil prices, but a quick increase in US oil production is not possible. It requires infrastructure, labour, and investment,' according to market analysts. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Recent US-EU trade agreement has offered some support to oil markets, as has the extension of the US-China trade truce. However, continued volatility in geopolitical relations and uncertainty around US inventory levels and upcoming interest rate decisions are expected to keep oil prices on edge. Analysts noted that a stronger US dollar has kept some lid on oil prices, but the broader trend remains tilted upward due to geopolitical uncertainties and potential supply shocks.
Hindustan Times
34 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Why Smithsonian removed Donald Trump impeachment references from an exhibit
The Smithsonian Institution has quietly removed a reference to US President Donald Trump's two impeachment proceedings from a key exhibit at the National Museum of American History. The decision comes as the White House exerts pressure to offer a more positive and selective view of American history. A Smithsonian spokesperson confirmed its removal.(AFP) The label referencing all Presidential impeachment proceedings was added in 2021 to the museum's "American Presidency" exhibit under the section "Limits of Presidential Power." It also addressed Trump's unprecedented dual impeachments. A Smithsonian spokesperson confirmed its removal, which comes as the new Trump administration has called for intensified efforts to reshape how federal cultural institutions portray American history. Why were the impeachment exhibits removed? Smithsonian spokesperson Phillip Zimmerman said Friday that the section, which includes materials on President Bill Clinton's impeachment and the Watergate scandal that led to President Richard Nixon's resignation, needed to be overhauled. He said the decision came after the museum" reviewed our legacy content recently." "Because the other topics in this section had not been updated since 2008, the decision was made to restore the Impeachment case back to its 2008 appearance," Zimmerman said in an email. He said that in September 2021, the museum installed a temporary label on content concerning Trump's impeachment. "It was intended to be a short-term measure to address current events at the time," he said. But the label remained in place. "A large permanent gallery like The American Presidency that opened in 2000 requires a significant amount of time and funding to update and renew," he said. "A future and updated exhibit will include all impeachments." Did political pressure play a role? While museum officials framed the decision as part of routine exhibit maintenance, the timing has raised eyebrows. Since his return to the Oval Office, Trump and his allies have called for efforts to eliminate what they describe as divisive or unpatriotic narratives. In March, Trump issued an executive order entitled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History," in which he alleged that the Smithsonian was beholden to 'a divisive, race-centred ideology.' He has placed Vice President JD Vance in charge of an effort to ensure no funding goes to "exhibits or programmes that degrade shared American values, divide Americans based on race, or promote programmes or ideologies inconsistent with Federal law and policy."
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Plans remain the same even if Jasprit Bumrah is playing or not: Prasidh Krishna
1:41 A day after reports suggested that Indian state-run oil companies had stopped buying crude from Russia, government sources rejected the claims, stating that India's energy trade decisions are guided by market dynamics and national interest. The clarification followed US President Donald Trump's praise of the alleged halt, which he called a "good step", though he admitted he was unsure of its accuracy.
