**Taiwan Says It Doesn’t Need China for Most Rare Earth Materials**
*By Dwaipayan Roy | October 12, 2025, 5:19 PM*
Taiwan’s economy ministry is currently evaluating the impact of China’s recent expansion of rare earth export restrictions on its critical semiconductor industry. According to the ministry, the majority of Taiwan’s rare earth materials are sourced from Europe, the United States, and Japan. However, officials are still assessing how the latest Chinese restrictions may affect supply chains and production costs in this sector.
**China Tightens Rare Earth Export Controls**
China has recently expanded its control over rare earth exports by adding five new elements to the restricted list. The country has also increased scrutiny specifically targeting chip manufacturers and users. This move comes ahead of high-stakes talks between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, intensifying concerns over supply chain stability.
The Taiwanese economy ministry emphasized that “the impact on the operation of the semiconductor industry still requires further stocktaking and assessment,” highlighting the need to carefully analyze potential disruptions.
**Impact on Taiwan’s Semiconductor Industry**
Taiwan is home to the world’s largest contract chipmaker, TSMC, which produces a majority of the advanced chips used in artificial intelligence applications globally. Any disruption in rare earth supply chains or increased costs resulting from China’s new restrictions could have significant repercussions for Taiwan’s semiconductor sector and the broader technology industry.
**China’s Defense of Export Restrictions**
Earlier today, China defended its export curbs on rare earth elements and related equipment. The Chinese government stated that the restrictions are motivated by concerns over the military applications of these metals amid what it described as “frequent military conflict.” This rationale reflects Beijing’s strategic considerations tied to national security.
As Taiwan continues to monitor the situation, industry stakeholders are closely watching the developments, given the critical role rare earth materials play in semiconductor manufacturing and advanced technology production.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/world/taiwan-assesses-impact-of-china-s-rare-earth-export-curbs/story