U.S. rare earth ambitions center on Malaysia but China’s already there

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — In their quest to break China’s chokehold over rare earth metals, the United States and its partners increasingly see an answer in a 15-year-old processing facility in central Malaysia.

The only major rare earths refinery outside China, it is operated by Australian firm Lynas, financed by a Japanese state-owned company, and will soon add a South Korean-developed “super magnet” factory next door. It represents the kind of allied joint venture that Washington wants to see replicated across the world to weaken China’s grip over processed rare earths, which are needed in everything from missiles to pacemakers.