The Chinese mining company CMOC has called on the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo to lift its export ban on cobalt. The country imposed a four-month ban on exports in the hope of raising prices. The ban is scheduled to expire next month. CMOC’s Vice President Kenny Ives reportedly told Congolese officials in a closed-door meeting that China’s pipeline inventory was running low. He said that if miners aren’t allowed to export freely, it would hasten the adoption of lithium iron phosphate batteries that don’t contain cobalt. Congolese officials reportedly saw this as a threat and fear that China is depressing global cobalt prices to build up supplies. (REUTERS)

China is “gravely concerned” by the Trump administration’s plans for a satellite-based missile defense system. On Tuesday, President Trump announced that he had selected a design for the $175 billion Golden Dome project and named a Space Force general to lead it. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said its rapid development of space weapons “gives the project a strong offensive nature and violates the principle of peaceful use in the Outer Space Treaty. The project will heighten the risk of turning space into a war zone and creating a space arms race, and shake the international security and arms control system.” (MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS)