Afghanistan, April 15 -- China has called on the United States to adhere to international laws regarding the extraction of rare metals from the ocean floor.
On Monday, April 14, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that no country should issue permits to extract ocean floor resources without respecting international legal frameworks. This statement came after reports of U.S. efforts to secure rare metals from the depths of the Pacific Ocean.
The U.S. government's move was reportedly driven by a desire to reduce dependency on China for rare minerals, especially for defense industries. According to the Financial Times, the Trump administration was preparing an executive order to begin stockpiling rare metals on U.S. soil, citi...