China’s government vowed on 19 July to strengthen a “zero-tolerance” campaign against the smuggling of strategic minerals after security officials said they had foiled an attempt by a foreign intelligence service to steal rare-earth materials. At a meeting of the national export-control coordination mechanism in Nanning, the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Public Security and General Administration of Customs ordered tougher law-enforcement measures, the creation of a joint enforcement centre and the blacklisting of violators. Authorities also promised faster handling of legitimate export licences to tighten oversight while maintaining legal trade. Beijing has gradually expanded export curbs on minerals essential to semiconductors, renewable energy and defence, adding controls on gallium, germanium, antimony and several medium- and heavy-rare-earth elements earlier this year. Officials said smugglers have increasingly relied on false declarations and third-country trans-shipments, prompting the latest crackdown aimed at preventing critical resources and related technologies from leaving the country illicitly.