Australia’s Zirconium Secret: How Our Rare Mineral is Powering China’s Deadly Hypersonic Missiles
- Australia’s zirconium exports to China are sparking fears of a security threat as the mineral is crucial for the development of hypersonic missiles
- China’s military is rapidly expanding its arsenal of hypersonic missiles, which can travel at over five times the speed of sound and are nearly impossible to intercept
- Australia has the world’s largest reserves of zirconium, with 67% of global supplies, making us a critical player in the global market
- Defence Minister Richard Marles has downplayed concerns, saying there are other sources of zirconium and that export controls are not necessary
Australia’s lucrative zirconium exports to China have raised concerns about the security implications of supplying a critical mineral to a nation rapidly expanding its military capabilities. The zirconium, used in the production of hypersonic missiles, has sparked fears that our raw materials could be used against us in the future.
China’s military is undergoing a period of “explosive growth” in its hypersonic missile program, with frequent shows of force and public displays of its military might. The missiles, which can travel at over five times the speed of sound, are nearly impossible to intercept and pose a significant threat to regional security.
Australia’s zirconium reserves are the largest in the world, with 67% of global supplies. This has made us a critical player in the global market, with China relying heavily on our exports to fuel its military expansion. However, this has also raised concerns about the security implications of supplying a critical mineral to a nation with a rapidly expanding military.
Defence Minister Richard Marles has downplayed concerns, saying that there are other sources of zirconium and that export controls are not necessary. However, this has not alleviated concerns among security experts, who warn that Australia’s exports could be used to develop missiles that could be used against us in the future.
“China’s hypersonic weapons are entering a period of explosive growth,” said a state-controlled South China Morning Post report. “This raises concerns about the security implications of supplying a critical mineral to a nation with a rapidly expanding military.”
Australia’s zirconium exports to China have sparked a heated debate about the security implications of supplying raw materials to a nation with a rapidly expanding military. As the world’s largest supplier of zirconium, Australia has a critical role to play in shaping the global market and ensuring that our exports are not used to fuel military expansion.
However, the issue is complex, with many arguing that export controls are not the solution. “China is our largest trading partner, and our biggest source of security anxiety,” said Defence Minister Richard Marles. “But that doesn’t mean we should cut off trade ties. We need to have a nuanced approach to this issue.”
As the debate continues, one thing is clear: Australia’s zirconium exports to China have sparked a security concern that cannot be ignored. With the world’s largest reserves of zirconium, we have a critical role to play in shaping the global market and ensuring that our exports are not used to fuel military expansion.