thejoyusa

Public Relations and Communications Expert| Fluent in Sarcasm

[thejoyusa @joyusa6]

We had a family wedding and we all went out to buy drinks sans the couple of course, while we were picking the cokes, berry wines and non alcoholics my aunt grabs a bottle of baileys, hands it to me and says I know this is your own brand. Only alcohol purchased that day😂

[ThatPortharcourtBoy aka Uncle Lyne @ThatPHCBoy]

Lol I have 40+ cousins who still hide to drink alcohol at family functions. I just laugh at them, while I pour my whisky.

[Arnaud Bertrand @RnaudBertrand]

Here's a question I know many are wondering about: why did China wait until now to use rare earths as leverage against the US? Why not in the first Trump administration when the US started the trade hostilities? Or when the Biden administration unleashed the chips export controls 3 years ago?

I just watched a fascinating explanation by a Chinese analyst and, unexpectedly, a big part of the explanation is... helium.

I had no idea but as he explains (source here: https://t.co/eUbbU5QIHW), all the way until 2022 China imported 95% of its helium and most of it was controlled by the US. Of the world's ten largest helium producers, four were American companies, and the remaining six all used American technology.

Helium isn't just a party balloons gas: it has plenty of industrial applications for things such as quantum computing, rocket technology, MRI machines, as a coolant for chip lithography equipment, etc.

In a nutshell what he's explaining is that with helium the US had an even stronger card to play if China ever used the rare earths card.

This raised huge alarm bells inside China. In an article published in late 2022 in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Science (https://t.co/eZhyv438LK), several researchers from PetroChina’s Beijing-based Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development stressed that China would be greatly affected if the US imposed a “stranglehold” blockade on helium exports.

So over the past few years there were gigantic efforts in China to break the "helium shackles," with seven helium extraction facilities going into production, and China also switching imports from the US in favor of imports from friendly countries like Russia.

China's research ecosystem also went into overdrive to find solutions to the helium dependency issues, with China's Academy of Sciences awarding its annual 2024 "Outstanding Science and Technology Achievement Prize" to a new helium extraction technology project (https://t.co/eWs163mfaO) because "these scientific and engineering achievements broke the long-standing monopoly of the US and ensured the security of China's helium resources" (https://t.co/d7YquWKFGS)

The result: by the end of 2024 China had cut its helium dependence on the US to less than 5% (https://t.co/wOxm8VRZJj). The "helium shackles" were broken.

That's what most people don't realize: power isn't about intentions or rhetoric - it's about what you can actually do. Many wonder why countries almost never retaliate when the US imposes sanctions or export controls. The answer is simple: they can't. They lack the alternatives, the technology, the supply chains.

China is the first country that systematically worked to eliminate every single pressure point, with humongous efforts. It's not just helium: it's chips, energy, telecommunication, pharmaceuticals, etc.

That's why the rare earth card can finally be played now. Not because China suddenly became aggressive, but because they have developed the capabilities to say "no."

Last word: as a European, this is both depressing and inspiring. Depressing because it highlights the immense magnitude of the task at hand to become genuinely sovereign and develop our own capabilities to say "no." Inspiring because China demonstrated that it can actually be done, and relatively fast if we execute competently. Although with the current crop of folks at the helm in Europe, that last part is admittedly a very, very big "if"...

[thejoyusa @joyusa6]

One day.

[Road To Success @_RoadToSuccess_]

Here are 15 places you must visit before leaving this world! 💫

[thejoyusa @joyusa6]

@OdiachiEze @EvnNeare Omg finally someone said it in a way these slow people can understand, Jesus 😭

[thejoyusa @joyusa6]

We need a bad person who wants to do good!

[Hon Henry Shield @HonShield]

To defeat Tinubu in 2027, we need a Candidate that is RUGGED, CRAZY, STREET SMART AND LOADED.

Someone willing and able to tear down every structure of criminality while holding INEC by the jugular.

[thejoyusa @joyusa6]

I put my all into this, may this new land PLEASE Favour me and mines🥺🥺

[thejoyusa @joyusa6]

@p_ierre_ Happy birthday 🥳

[thejoyusa @joyusa6]

@p_ierre_ Thank you kindly🤭

[thejoyusa @joyusa6]

MERRY CHRISTMAS YA FILTHY ANIMALS
AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR😁😁

[thejoyusa @joyusa6]

@GbemiOO Omg I’m watching it too and the story line first of all is so confusing but the eye patch on both the man AND the woman has my mum in a complete twist and how did we get to a gun scene!!!!😭😭

[thejoyusa @joyusa6]

Be honest, you asked for the nails to be shorter and not pointy yes or yes.
A very seasoned nail tech could’ve narrowly pulled it off but true true na you cause this one by yourself 😂

[Monie @Monie_HRM]

Help me choose judge this wickedness…Look at my finger in Frame 1 😂😂😂😂

[thejoyusa @joyusa6]

@Onalo_jr This is a mean thing to say sha smh

[thejoyusa @joyusa6]

The average Nigerian man does not believe a woman can achieve anything through hard work surely she’s using her body.
I just like how breeze is blowing everybody’s skirts 😂😂😂

[AY COMEDIAN @AYCOMEDIAN]

One day man go tell man "wetin man do man". We work so hard to stay relevant and take care of our responsibilities. Must we have breast and yansh to have the support of our fellow men?
I am still the only man left in the business of filmmaking who is yet to give it all up. THE WAITER is a beautiful movie. I will continue to PERSONALLY push it with my full chest in cinemas nationwide. I am too legit to quit. #thewaitermovie

[thejoyusa @joyusa6]

IJGB but from Lagos to the FCT 🤭

[thejoyusa @joyusa6]

@Onalo_jr What😭

[thejoyusa @joyusa6]

But for real though you guys are really annoying in this town, Especially the people in relationships ish😒😒😒😒😒

[A͟B͟U͟J͟A͟ ͟P͟L͟U͟G͟ 🔌💯🇳🇬🇳🇬 @ABUJAPLUG]

"Yo, I'm in Abuja o, where are you?"

I'm in my house enjoying my rent. 🤨🤨

[thejoyusa @joyusa6]

“Women are too emotional and dramatic”
Pele oh One Time Password 😂😂

[Dear Son. @DearS_o_n]

A man cries for a woman once in his lifetime, but when he overcomes heartbreak, his soul will never allow him to truly trust women ever again.

[thejoyusa @joyusa6]

Here we go again
Una no Dey Taya for this clickbait and pity party???🙄🙄

[𝑴𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒙 @mirexmoses]

😩