ABC News Daily Is China building missiles with our critical minerals?
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Nov 2, 2025 Angus Grigg, an investigative reporter for Four Corners specializing in national security, delves into the implications of Australia's vast reserves of critical minerals. He reveals how zirconium, essential for both consumer products and military applications, might inadvertently fuel China's military ambitions, including hypersonic missiles. The conversation highlights the delicate balance Australia faces between fostering trade and ensuring national security, especially in light of rising tensions with China and the potential risks of facilitating its military modernization.
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Australia's Strategic Mineral Advantage
- Australia holds some of the world's largest reserves of critical minerals and rare earths, creating huge economic opportunity.
- Angus Grigg explains rising global demand has made these once-obscure minerals strategically important.
Hypersonics Change Warfare
- Hypersonic missiles travel at least five times the speed of sound and are highly maneuverable, making them hard to intercept.
- Angus Grigg highlights their speed and maneuverability as a major shift in modern warfare.
Zirconium's Critical Military Role
- Zirconium has a very high melting point (>1800°C) making it vital for hypersonic missile nose cones and heat shielding.
- Angus Grigg reveals zirconium's industrial uses extend well beyond ceramics into critical military applications.