China is willing to meet reasonable demand for rare earths from other countries, but it would be unacceptable that countries using Chinese rare earths to manufacture products would turn around and suppress China.
An illegal strike that led to the dismissal of over 600 employees at the Mototolo mine run by Anglo American Platinum has been resolved and the workers will be reinstated.
James Marape, a former finance minister who became leader after winning a vote in parliament, put some of the world's biggest resources companies on notice over a perceived lack of wealth flowing from their projects back to communities.
Zambia says its decision to punish miner Vedanta's local operation for breaching environmental and financial regulations is a signal to other firms to follow the law.
Lynas' status as a non-Chinese producer came into sharper focus this week after major Chinese newspapers reported Beijing was ready to use rare earths to strike back in its trade war with the US.
Rio Tinto, which is seeking to divest less profitable assets, said last November that it was selling its 69% stake in the world's longest-running open pit uranium mine to China for up to $106.5 million.
President Edgar Lungu has swiftly followed through on his threat with a move to liquidate Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), the local operating unit of India's Vedanta and one of the country's biggest producers.
The dispute at Penasquito, Mexico's largest gold and silver mine, has led to losses for public coffers and the firm, as well as lost pay for workers and contractors.
