Thailand Faces Backlash Over U.S. Rare Earth Deal Aimed at China

Thailand’s rare earth deal with the U.S. draws backlash at home, with critics warning it gives Washington first shot and shuts out China.
US President Donald Trump (R) holds up a document with Thailand's PM Anutin Charnvirakul in Kuala Lumpur on October 26, 2025. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP)

The U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Sunday signed a rare earths and critical minerals memorandum on the sidelines of an ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur. The deal is drawing immediate backlash in Bangkok from opposition lawmakers.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that Washington is trying to blunt China’s rare earth export controls. It is done by locking in separate deals across Southeast Asia to secure non-Chinese supply for U.S. defense and EV production.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest news and analysis from Africa, Asia, and across the Global South.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China’s relations across the Global South.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by Edwin Shri Bimo

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C
3 From J-10C to Kaan? Indonesia’s Fighter Jet Deal With Turkey Shocks Chinese Military Fans
4
Uncertainty Roils Minerals Markets
5
Indonesia Goes Nuclear, Taps China and Russia for Modular Reactors
6
Chinese Cargo Planes Secretly Ferrying Supplies to Iran, Claim Online Sleuths

You Might Like

Malaysia’s opposition says a U.S.-Malaysia rare earths deal forces Malaysia to follow U.S. sanctions on China and cede sovereignty.

Malaysia’s U.S. Trade Pact Triggers China, Sovereignty Backlash

The United States is moving to cut China out of the supply chains for rare earths, critical minerals, and advanced electronics, and it is using Malaysia-U.S. rare earths deal to do it, as ...
China will require licenses for some rare-earth exports to prevent security risks and weapon proliferation, not a total ban.

China to License Rare-Earth Exports to Screen Security Risks

China’s Commerce Ministry on Sunday says rare-earth export licenses will screen security risks, not halt trade nor impose an export ban. Compliant civilian applications “will get approval,” with a “very limited” supply-chain ...
Malaysia’s opposition says a U.S.-Malaysia rare earths deal forces Malaysia to follow U.S. sanctions on China and cede sovereignty.

Addressing China, U.S. Gets Full Rare Earth Access from Malaysia

The United States is moving to lock in Malaysia as a secure economic and strategic partner in Southeast Asia. The U.S.–Malaysia rare earths agreement ties market access to U.S. rules on critical ...
China and Malaysia are in early talks on a rare earths refinery talks, with Chinese tech transfer, amid supply and environmental hurdles.

China–Malaysia in Rare Earths Refinery Talks, With Tech Transfer

China and Malaysia are in early talks on a rare-earth processing project. The potential collaboration could involve Chinese state-linked firms partnering with Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional to build a refinery ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP