Beyond Rare Earths: Fluorine Supply Chains as a Potential Next Strategic Chokepoint
The source argues that fluorine-derived chemicals—especially ultra-high-purity inputs used in semiconductor fabrication—are an underappreciated strategic dependency where China holds significant downstream dominance. It also highlights that China’s export-control architecture could enable tighter governance of fluorine-related exports if geopolitical conditions change, complicating diversification efforts focused only on mining.