Time to take a step back from the slippery slope of conflict

GIVEN Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe's vehemence at the Shangri-La Dialogue, there is little chance that the Sino-US feud is going away anytime soon.

Instead, China could well use its grip on the supply of rare earth minerals to the US in the next phase of their trade war. Such minerals are indispensable, not only in the tech sector but in the energy sector as a catalyst in oil refineries and in wind turbines. Electric cars cannot be made without them. More significantly, it is key to many weapons systems.

It is glib to say that rare earths are in fact not so rare and that substitute supplies can be found elsewhere. Even if new sources of the rare elements can be located, it will take several years to get the mines and refineries going - in the best of circumstances. The problem with rare earth mining and refining is the highly toxic waste. For instance, Malaysia, which has some reserves, has warned that it will cancel the operating licence of Australian miner Lynas Corporation unless it adheres to stringent conditions at its rare earth refinery in Kuantan, which it has run since 2012.