China has vowed to intensify its crackdown on the smuggling of strategic minerals, reinforcing its “zero-tolerance” policy as it tightens export controls on resources deemed critical to national security and economic development.

The announcement by the Ministry of Commerce on Saturday followed fresh accusations from the Ministry of State Security, which alleged that foreign intelligence agencies have been attempting to steal information and access to China’s rare earths — minerals vital to sectors including defense, chipmaking, and clean energy.

In a high-level meeting involving export control authorities and other government bodies, officials described smuggling as a “severe problem” that threatens the country’s strategic interests. The ministry highlighted the use of covert methods such as false declarations, third-country transshipments, and collusion between domestic and foreign entities, as ongoing challenges in enforcing export laws.

“Cases of smuggling by a small number of criminals for their own selfish interests and collusion between domestic and foreign parties are still occurring,” read a ministry statement.

China, the world’s largest supplier of rare earths and other strategic minerals, began tightening export restrictions in 2023. In May 2025, it pledged to expand regulatory oversight across the entire supply chain, aiming to prevent illegal outflows of critical materials like gallium, germanium, antimony, tungsten, and other rare earth elements.

Authorities have launched special enforcement campaigns to tackle these issues, warning that violators will face severe consequences as part of a broader national effort to safeguard economic sovereignty and technological leadership.

The move underscores Beijing’s continued effort to assert control over its resource-rich industries while addressing geopolitical tensions and external economic pressures.