Editing Science and technology in China (section)

=== Mining and rare earth industry ===
[[File:Coal mine in Inner Mongolia 002.jpg|thumb|right|[[Coal in China|Coal mining]] in [[Inner Mongolia]].]]
{{See also|Rare earth element#Global rare earth production|Rare earth industry in China|Mining industry of China}}

Advisory firm The Beijing Axis director Lilian Luca in 2010 stated that China was becoming a world leader in [[mining engineering|mining technology]]. Technological solutions were initially concentrated on achieving massive low-cost production but increasing emphasis has been placed on environmental and safety issues in part reflecting greater [[Environmental issues in China|concern in China with environmental issues]]. China was already a world leader in certain areas such as [[rare earth element]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://knowledge.insead.edu/economy-China-mining-100608.cfm|title=Economy; China mining|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100719143620/http://knowledge.insead.edu/economy-China-mining-100608.cfm|archive-date=2010-07-19|access-date=2012-04-02}}</ref> China has imposed export quotas on rare earth elements, 95% of which are mined in China, citing environmental issues, but has been accused of wanting to force high tech industry using rare earth elements to move to China.

Finding rare earth elements is only the first and some argue the easiest step. Other steps towards manufacturing such as [[refining]] is controlled by China and Japan with the previously dominant United States having lost all of its producers and much of its fundamental technological ability with the number of scientists and engineers in the area declining dramatically.<ref>Lou Kilzer, http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_790579.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413033534/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_790579.html |date=April 13, 2012 }}</ref>