China’s Power Play on Mining Tests Western Mettle

Curbs on gallium and germanium exports are meant to showcase the nation’s dominance in the resources business. 

Gallium metal melting at body temperature.Photographer: Phil Degginger/Alamy

Welcome to Energy Daily, our guide to the energy and commodities markets powering the global economy. Today, Senior Reporter Alfred Cang looks at China’s effort to control metals exports. Listen to the What Goes Up podcast for a discussion on the changing world food supply. To get this newsletter sent straight to your inbox, you can sign up here.

Large-scale bronze smelting capacity was key to both the real and projected power of the ancient Chinese Qin state. More than 2,000 years later, the People’s Republic of China is again deploying metal to demonstrate its clout.