China increases global mining operations for green technology, causing tensions to rise

Chinese mining companies are facing increasing friction with host communities as they expand their operations in countries rich in minerals vital to the green economy. The BBC Global China Unit has identified numerous mining projects worldwide in which Chinese companies have a stake, particularly in extracting lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese for use in batteries and other green technologies.

One such case involves Ai Qing, a Chinese worker in Argentina, who found herself in the middle of a riot when angry Argentine workers blockaded her company’s lithium extraction site. Similar conflicts have arisen in other countries where Chinese mining companies operate, with allegations of rights violations, environmental damage, and unsafe working conditions.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, activist Christophe Kabwita has been leading opposition to a Chinese-owned cobalt mine that uses explosives near residential areas, causing safety concerns and environmental harm. In Indonesia, villagers near a Chinese-owned mine have reported pollution of water sources and threats of forced relocation.

Despite these challenges, Chinese companies continue to expand their overseas mining operations, driven by profit motives and the need to secure key resources for their industrial priorities. Workers like Wang Gang, who toil in foreign mines far from home, endure long hours and separation from their families in exchange for higher pay.

As China’s role in the global mining sector grows, concerns about the social and environmental impacts of its operations are also on the rise, prompting calls for greater accountability and oversight in the industry.