China Restricts Exports Of Antimony, A Mineral Used For Weapons

China’s Commerce Ministry has announced that it will restrict exports of a mineral used in a wide range of products from batteries to weapons, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

The controls also cover smelting and separation technology, machinery, and other items related to what the notice called super-hard materials.

Export controls will be placed on antimony starting September 15 to safeguard China’s security and interests and to fulfill its international non-proliferation obligations, the ministry said.

Anyone wishing to export the mineral in various forms will have to apply for a license. It wasn’t immediately clear to what extent exports would be blocked, though the “non-proliferation” wording suggested it could include weapons-related uses.

A brief explanation issued by the Commerce Ministry stated that exports complying with regulations would be permitted but that the government opposes any country using items from China “to engage in activities that undermine China’s national sovereignty, security, and development interests.”

The controls also cover smelting and separation technology, machinery, and other items related to what the notice called super-hard materials. Last year, China imposed export curbs on gallium and germanium, two metals used in computer chips and solar cells, to “safeguard national security.”