China Is Winning the Race for Central Asia’s Critical Minerals

China Is Winning the Race for Central Asia’s Critical Minerals

US officials keep expressing enthusiasm for expanding trade in critical minerals with Central Asian states. But while Washington talks, China is taking substantive action to expand its hold over Central Asia’s abundant resources.  During her recent Senate confirmation hearing, Julie Stufft, the Trump administration’s nominee to be US envoy to Kazakhstan, reaffirmed US interest in developing Central Asia’s critical minerals sector.   “Almost half…