Beijing, Oct 13 (PTI) China on Monday said that its move to clamp strict restrictions on exports of rare-earth minerals and their technologies blaming foreign firms for their misuse has no link to Pakistani leaders presenting the precious metals to US President Donald Trump.

Beijing’s ironclad friendship with Pakistan remained intact despite Islamabad developing close ties with Washington, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said.

“China’s recent announcement on export control measures concerning rare-earths and related items has nothing to do with Pakistan,” Lin told a media briefing here answering a question from state-run Global Times.

“The reports you mentioned are either unaware of the facts, or are based on speculation, or are intended to sow discord. They are groundless,” Lin said.

China, which virtually holds a monopoly over the rare-earth materials, last week announced further export controls for mining and processing the minerals alleging unnamed foreign firms of using its supplies for military purposes. This is the second set of restrictions.

Beijing’s move angered Trump who threatened 100 per cent tariffs against Chinese goods.

China accounts for about 70 per cent of the world’s rare-earths mining but at the same time controls about 90 per cent of their processing which makes it virtually the sole supplier of the precious metals used in a host of modern equipment, including automobile, electronics, wind energy and defence.

China’s rare-earth metals are much in demand as the US, the European Union and India are its top importers.

A photo showing Pakistan army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir along with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif presenting a box which reports said were samples of rare-earth materials trigger speculation that the new measures announced by China blaming foreign firms misusing China’s exports of raw-materials was attributed to Pakistan.

Pakistan also reported to have sent first shipment of these metals to the US.

He said the box of raw stones presented to Trump by Gen Munir were not rare-earths but gem ores.

“From what I’ve learned, the two countries have been in communication on Pakistan-US mining cooperation. Pakistan stressed that its business with the US will never harm China’s interests or its cooperation with China,” Lin said.

“The samples that the Pakistani leaders showed and gave to the US leader are gem ores purchased by staff in Pakistan. The reported stories that you mentioned are either misinformed or invented, or even designed to drive a wedge between China and Pakistan. They are just baseless,” he said.

Lin said China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners.

“Our iron-clad friendship has stood the test of time. The two countries have maintained high-level strategic mutual trust and close communication on major issues concerning each other’s common interests,” he said.

Lin said China’s recently released export control measures are a legitimate action by the Chinese government to refine its export control system in accordance with laws and regulations.

It aims to better defend world peace and regional stability and to fulfil non-proliferation and other international obligations, he said. PTI KJV GSP GSP

Export controls: China says rare-earth restrictions are legally justified and unrelated to Pakistan's gift to the US. China framed its tightened export controls on rare-earth minerals and related technologies as lawful measures to prevent misuse and fulfil non-proliferation obligations, aimed at unnamed foreign firms rather than any bilateral incident. Officials denied reports tying the restrictions to Pakistan's presentation of mineral samples to the US, asserting the samples were gem ores and reaffirming China-Pakistan strategic cooperation while defending the legitimacy of the export-control refinements.