Much alarm is being expressed about China's dominance of the REEs which are one of the rate limiting materials for the progression to the 21st Century's "electron-economy".
The article linked to is quite to the point and if you are contemplating a REE investment then it is worthwhile reading it.
In essence they are saying that Jack Lifton got it right.
China’s rare earth monopoly threatens global suppliers, rival producers claim
By Cole Latimer, Jieun Kim, Mia Tahara-Stubbs & Yumin Wang
Published: May 29 2009 13:51 | Last updated: May 29 2009 13:51
"The Chinese acquisition of stakes in Australian rare earth miners Lynas Corporation and Arafura Resources has “caught the rest of the world sleeping,” said Rod McIllree, managing director at Australian-based Greenland Minerals & Energy (ASX Code: GGG)."
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