Australia Just Helped China's Nuclear Program — And Nobody Noticed Until Now

Australia's significant role in the global zirconium market, supplying 74% of the reserves essential for nuclear fuel and hypersonic missiles, has come under scrutiny as Chinese firms gain control over major Australian mines. This situation raises alarms, especially in light of a 300% surge in China's zirconium exports to Russia since the onset of the Ukraine war. The implications of this partnership, particularly against the backdrop of the AUKUS security pact, highlight potential risks to global security and the need for closer examination of international resource control.