A spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce answered questions from reporters regarding the special campaign to combat the smuggling and export of strategic minerals.
Question: We have noticed that the Office of the National Export Control Coordination Mechanism recently deployed a special campaign to combat the smuggling and export of strategic minerals. What considerations were behind this special campaign? What other work will be carried out?
Answer: Strengthening export controls on strategic mineral resources is crucial to national security and development interests. Since the implementation of export controls on some strategic minerals, we have discovered that some overseas entities have colluded with domestic lawbreakers in an attempt to evade export control measures through smuggling and other means. To curb the momentum of smuggling and other activities, the Office of the National Export Control Coordination Mechanism held an on-site meeting in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, on May 9, focusing on combating the smuggling of strategic minerals, and made special arrangements. A series of actions will also be organized in the near future.
The on-site meeting further clarified the task divisions among the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of State Security, the General Administration of Customs, the State Post Bureau, and other departments in this special campaign. It required relevant departments to strengthen law enforcement collaboration, severely crack down on the smuggling and export of strategic minerals, form a high-pressure situation of "joint efforts and shared responsibilities," adopt practical and effective measures, and resolutely prevent the illegal outflow of strategic minerals.
Relevant departments immediately took action, swiftly launching cross-departmental investigations and case consultations targeting illegal and irregular activities that attempt to evade export controls, such as false declarations, concealment, smuggling through concealment, and transshipment via a "third country," which have recently emerged in the field of strategic minerals. They intensified port inspections and crackdown efforts, delved deep into uncovering illegal entities and smuggling networks behind the scenes, investigated and handled illegal cases strictly and promptly, continuously enhanced the effectiveness of export control law enforcement, and effectively safeguarded national security and development interests.