China has clarified that Pakistan has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that its relations with the United States will not harm Beijing’s interests or impact ongoing China–Pakistan cooperation.
According to China’s state news agency Xinhua, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that the recent export restrictions on rare earth minerals and related materials are purely domestic measures aimed at improving China’s export control system and have no connection to Pakistan.
During a regular press briefing, Lin dismissed media claims suggesting that Pakistan exported rare earth minerals to the US using Chinese technology, saying such reports were misleading. He emphasized that China and Pakistan are long-standing “iron brothers” and strategic partners who maintain deep mutual trust and close coordination on shared concerns.
Lin confirmed that both nations had discussed Islamabad’s mineral cooperation with Washington, and Pakistan had assured that its partnership with the US would not undermine China–Pakistan ties. He further explained that the mineral samples shown by Pakistani officials to American representatives were merely raw gemstones bought by staff members, not rare earth exports.
He described the circulating reports as baseless rumors aimed at driving a wedge between the two allies. Lin reiterated that China’s export measures are legitimate actions meant to uphold global peace, regional security, and non-proliferation obligations.
Background:
Earlier, on September 8, 2025, US Strategic Metals (USSM) signed an MoU with Pakistan’s Frontier Works Organization (FWO) to develop critical minerals. The $500 million agreement includes establishing a modern polymetallic refinery in Pakistan to process and export copper, gold, and tungsten.
USSM recently sent its first batch of mineral samples — including antimony, copper concentrate, and rare earth elements like neodymium and praseodymium — to the US, calling it a milestone in the Pakistan–US mineral cooperation framework.
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