India, Dec. 20 -- Earlier this year, China introduced new restrictions on the export of twelve rare earth elements (REs), materials essential to semiconductors, defence systems, and renewable energy technologies.

While the announcement unsettled markets and was subsequently modified, the move follows a familiar pattern in Beijing's geopolitical playbook: using supply chain dominance to assert influence.

Yet, this strategy is beginning to lose its effectiveness. Each time China deploys export controls as leverage, it inadvertently accelerates global diversification away from its own industries.

The consequence is a fundamental shift in how countries and corporations now think about supply chain resilience. For India, this is not merely ...