Why Germany and Austria Are More Dependent on China for Strategic Raw Materials than on Russian Gas

PeopleOther ♦ Published: July 5, 2022; 19:49 ♦ (Vindobona)

China has established global dominance over many of the strategic raw materials needed to be competitive in the economy of the future. Read how Austria, Germany, and others have arguably become more dependent on these materials from China than on Russian gas.

The Chinese government has created a near-monopoly on critical raw materials necessary for technologies central to transitioning to a green economy. / Picture: © Wikimedia Commons / Daderot, Public domain

While Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine has highlighted the dangers of European dependence on Russian oil and gas, it has also raised strategic questions about the growing global reliance on China.

As the world has increased trade relations with China and the Chinese economy has steadily strengthened over the…