Context
India has not joined the US-led “Pax Silica” initiative, a strategic coalition aimed at securing critical minerals, energy inputs, and semiconductor supply chains to counter China’s dominance.
About Pax Silica
- A US-led strategic initiative to build a secure, resilient, and innovation-driven supply chain
- Covers the full value chain:
Critical minerals → energy inputs → semiconductors → advanced manufacturing
- Aims to reduce China’s dominance in future-tech sectors
Countries Involved
- Participants include:
Japan, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Netherlands United Kingdom, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Australia, United States
- India is not part of the coalition
Why Pax Silica Matters
- China controls:
- ~60–70% of rare earth mining
- ~85–90% of rare earth processing
- Recent Chinese restrictions on rare earth magnets highlighted global vulnerability
India’s Position
- India avoids exclusive, country-targeted blocs and prefers issue-based, non-aligned cooperation in supply chains while prioritising indigenous capacity building under the National Critical Minerals Mission and Semiconductor Mission.
- It also seeks to balance economic relations by engaging both the US and China without compromising strategic autonomy.
Key Terms
- Critical Minerals: Minerals essential for economic and national security with high supply risk (e.g., lithium, cobalt, rare earths).
- Rare Earth Elements (REEs): 17 elements used in magnets, EVs, defence electronics, semiconductors.
- Coercive Dependencies: Strategic reliance on a single country (notably China) for essential inputs.
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