China to stockpile critical resources and strengthen energy security to avoid trade shocks

Beijing is prioritising “strategic material security” under its new 15th five-year plan that elevates the supply and domestic stockpiling of critical resources to a matter of national security. Under the blueprint, Beijing is positioning “key commodities” on the same strategic footing as food and energy security, saying China will take a more active role in strengthening “energy and resource supply security” by “preventing and mitigating major risks in systemically important areas”. To achieve...