A new Security Nexus Perspective by Andrea Malji, a professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, examines the strategic role of critical minerals in the Indo-Pacific and their use as tools of geopolitical leverage.

Malji highlights how rare earth elements and their derivatives are essential for advanced technologies, with the Indo-Pacific serving as the hub for processing and transport. China’s dominance in refining capacity and control over key maritime chokepoints has enabled it to use mineral policy as a form of statecraft, influencing global supply chains and state behavior.

The article also explores how middle powers like Indonesia, Australia, and Vietnam are leveraging their resources to reduce dependence on China, though challenges such as high costs and long timelines persist. Malji concludes that mineral security is vital for regional stability, requiring coordinated investment in alternative supply chains and protection of critical transport routes.

Read the full article: Critical Minerals and Coercive Power in the Indo-Pacific – Why Mineral Security is Key to Regional Stability on Security Nexus.

The full linked article was researched and written by the author. This post includes only a summary  with the assistance of artificial intelligence, which were reviewed and edited by DoD personnel to ensure appropriateness and compliance with DoD policies and guidance.