# UK dangerously reliant on China for critical minerals

> MPs warn Britain cannot rebuild its military, develop AI or reach net zero without securing supplies of rare earths and other critical minerals dominated by Beijing.
- Title: UK dangerously reliant on China for critical minerals
- Summary: MPs warn Britain cannot rebuild its military, develop AI or reach net zero without securing supplies of rare earths and other critical minerals dominated by…
- Keywords: critical minerals, china, uk defence, rare earths, renewable energy, business select committee, liam byrne, the Guardian
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/world/2026/nov/05/uk-dangerously-reliant-on-china-critical-minerals-military-ai-renewable-energy
- Published: 2026-11-05T05:00:55+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: critical minerals, china, uk defence, rare earths, ai, renewable energy, business select committee, liam byrne, news, world
## China controls the world's minerals
China has a stranglehold on the world's supply of rare earths and other critical minerals, as well as their refined byproducts used in military jets, washing machines and consumer products.
## UK dangerously dependent, MPs find
The business select committee found the UK is dangerously dependent on China for critical raw materials needed for the military, renewable energy infrastructure and AI.
## Liam Byrne: we cannot rearm without them
Committee chair Liam Byrne said: "We cannot rearm Britain, build AI or deliver net zero unless we secure the minerals these technologies depend on."

> We cannot rearm Britain, build AI or deliver net zero unless we secure the minerals these technologies depend on.
## Demand for lithium to surge 45-fold
Demand for lithium alone would increase 45-fold between now and 2030, leaving the UK in a high-risk dependency relationship with China for electric vehicle batteries.
## Rare earths demand to rise 16-fold
Demand for rare earths needed for permanent magnets in military jets would rise 16-fold by 2030 as Britain seeks to rebuild its military capabilities.
## China cut supplies in 2025
China demonstrated its power by cutting rare earth supplies in 2025, showing that a dependency on Beijing is a strategic vulnerability for the UK economy and national security.
## MPs demand 10-point plan from government
The committee drew up a 10-point plan including identifying domestic mining opportunities, reducing procurement from China, unlocking investment and assessing planning barriers to mining.
## Key takeaway

A parliamentary investigation found the UK is dangerously dependent on China for critical minerals needed for defence, AI and renewable energy, and called for urgent centralised policy and funding.