Congo is at the centre of a critical minerals race between China and the West

Used in cell phones and laptop computers, 3TG—tin, tungsten, tantalum, and gold—are mined across the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Seen here is tin ore. Photo by Sasha Lezhnev/Enough Project/Flickr. Used in cell phones and laptop computers, 3TG—tin, tungsten, tantalum, and gold—are mined across the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Seen here is tin ore. Photo by Sasha Lezhnev/Enough Project/Flickr. China’s technological leadership in strategic industries must haunt the days and nights of Donald Trump. China has now overtaken the United States in manufacturing, artificial intelligence, energy, transport, biotech, defence, and robotics. The global economy is clearly tilting the geopolitical landscape toward China, and this reality is now a threat to US foreign policy. China’s dominant role in controlling and processing critical minerals that power the high-tech revolution and war itself is likely the greatest challenge to the unipolar world order that Trump seeks. Earlier this year, the US president announced a plan to create a $12 billion stockpile of critical minerals for American automakers, tech companies, and other manufacturers to counter China’s dominance in the global supply chain and protect US industry from price hikes. The inherent contradiction in Trump’s announcement is that the anticipated stockpile, known as Project…