Using highly sophisticated tactics, rare earths were smuggled from Vietnam to China under the direction of Liu Dehua, a Chinese national, who disguised them as ordinary goods for export.

Legal proceedings have been launched against 26 individuals allegedly involving in the illegal rare earth exploitation case at Thai Duong Group JSC.

The Criminal Investigation Agency for Corruption, Economic Crimes, and Smuggling has arrested a former Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment and five other suspects in connection with a significant rare earth mining scandal.

Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Dang Quoc Khanh on June 4 answered the National Assembly’s inquiries on solutions to research, exploitation and use of minerals as building materials, and rare and precious resources and minerals.

Vietnam not to export rare earth elements, says Deputy PM

Rare earths include 17 elements, most of which play an irreplaceable role in producing high-tech equipment, batteries, permanent magnets for electric vehicles, wind turbines, aeroplanes, phones and the defence industry.

Vietnam could realise its goal of becoming a significant source of rare earths for the global market, if rules on extraction and refining are made more suitable.

The chief economist from the US Department of State commented on her trip to Vietnam – the last stop on her five-country tour last week.

China has scrapped its quota system restricting exports of rare earth minerals after losing a World Trade Organisation (WTO) case.