QUAD Summit Discusses Rare-Earth Supply Chain Independent of China

U.S. President Joe Biden (L), with Secretary of State Antony Blinken (2nd L), meets virtually with members of the Quad alliance of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States, in the State Dining Room of the White House on March 12, 2021. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison are seen onscreen. Seated are counselor to the president Jeff Zients (2nd R) and National Security Council Senior Director for South Asia Sumona Guha. (OLIVIER DOULIERY / AFP) Photo by OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images

NEW DELHI—When the United States, India, Japan, and Australia met for their first leadership-level summit of the Quad alliance earlier this month, one key area of focus was rare earth minerals used in critical technology, with the nations forming a working group to focus on securing supply chains amid aggression from the Chinese regime.

Rare earths are a group of 17 different minerals that are indispensable for critical technologies including smartphones, electric cars, and military sensors and communication systems.