Hong Kong Watch speaks at UC Berkeley seminar on China’s rare earth monopoly

On 14 April, Hong Kong Watch’s Policy and Strategy Advisor Ray Wong and Canada Chair Aileen Calverley spoke at a seminar on ‘China’s Rare Earth Monopoly: Hong Kong Finance and Threats to Taiwan & the Pacific’ at the University of California, Berkeley. The event was co-hosted by the Hong Kong Affairs Association of Berkeley and the Institute of International Studies.

We explained how Beijing’s dominance in rare earth mining and processing was used as a war-proofing weapon, enabled by Hong Kong’s USD-pegged markets, banking networks, dollar clearing, and sanctions evasion. We also assessed the risks it posed to Taiwan’s defence and the US’s Indo-Pacific position, and discussed countermeasures via the US Rare Earth Alliance.

The seminar sparked a lively discussion among participants. We thank the organisers for providing a valuable platform to exchange insights on this critical topic.

香港監察擔任加州大學柏克萊分校研討會講者 分享中國稀土壟斷風險及對策

4月14日，香港監察政策及策略顧問黃台仰（Ray Wong）和加拿大香港監察主席Aileen Calverley擔任「中國稀土壟斷：香港金融及對台灣和太平洋地區的威脅」研討會講者。活動由加州大學柏克萊分校Hong Kong Affairs Association of Berkeley和Institute of International Studies合辦。

我們講解了北京如何利用其在稀土開採及加工領域的主導地位作為防戰武器，而這借助香港的美元掛鉤市場、銀行網絡、美元結算系統和規避制裁行為。我們亦評估了這對台灣國防和美國印太地區地位構成的風險，並討論了透過美國稀土聯盟採取的對策。

研討會引起參加者熱烈討論。我們感謝主辦團體提供寶貴的平台，讓我們能夠就這項重要議題交流見解。