Exclusive
International Pollution by Chinese Miners Worsens International Pollution by Chinese Miners Worsens ASEAN: Strategic Center of Gravity in US–China Rivalry ASEAN: Strategic Center of Gravity in US–China Rivalry Canadian intelligence flags crypto-to-cash services as ‘knowingly facilitating money laundering,’ document shows Canadian intelligence flags crypto-to-cash services as ‘knowingly facilitating money laundering,’ document shows
Current Affairs

China’s unique high-orbit satellite is using a rare metal the US struggles to obtain

A satellite that can provide 24/7 surveillance of a third of the Earth’s surface relies on a rare mineral whose global supply is dominated by…

By Samantha Johnson / July 22, 2026

A satellite that can provide 24/7 surveillance of a third of the Earth’s surface relies on a rare mineral whose global supply is dominated by China, a new study has disclosed.

It orbits 36,000km (22,000 miles) above the Earth and is able to stay in what is known as a geosynchronous orbit, which keeps it fixed over the same spot.

This allows it to monitor both large areas of the planet and moving targets – something the United States has spent decades trying to achieve without success.

China has near-total dominance of the global supply of GaN – a key component in active electronically scanned array radars, electronic warfare systems and next-generation defence platforms – and has restricted gallium exports since the satellite launched in August 2023.

China restricts critical metal exports following Western semiconductor curbs in latest trade war

The metal is mainly extracted as a by-product of alumina production rather than mined independently and China, the world’s largest aluminium producer, accounts for more than 95 per cent of global primary gallium production.

Don't Miss: