China bans on helium exports. It is not intended to sanction other countries, but rather to prioritize meeting the needs of China's domestic semiconductor industry.
China produces relatively little helium domestically; about 80% of its supply is imported, mainly from Qatar and Russia. Since the outbreak of the Gulf War, helium prices in China have skyrocketed. As one industry insider put it, 'The helium I bought early this year cost more than four times what it did just a few years ago.'
This helium export ban is similar to China's earlier restriction on fertilizer exports—both are measures to ensure that domestic needs. They are not aimed at any particular country, such as Japan (although I hope so). If some nations run into problems because they can't get Chinese helium, that's not China's concern.
Moreover, Russia has explicitly required that helium exported to China not be re-exported to hostile countries. This ban also helps ensure that Russian-origin helium isn't indirectly funneled to the West, which aligns with the logic of Sino-Russian strategic coordination on critical resources.
To the hand-wringing Europeans who felt offended by President Trump rejecting being lectured by President Zelensky: Be my guest to defend Ukraine from Putin.
It is long past time for the Europeans to show they are capable of defending their own continent.
They’ve allowed their militaries to be hollowed out and when Europe speaks, no bad guy listens.
I say this with great sadness: The last group of people that I would count on to defend freedom are the Europeans.