Australia has taken another step forward to loosening Beijing’s grip on the world’s critical mineral supply chains. The Tasmanian state government is offering a $10 million loan to the long-dormant Dolphin Tungsten mine on the remote King Island located in Australia’s Bass Strait. An additional $15 million of federal government support is currently being negotiated. Tungsten is the world’s second hardest mineral after diamond; it has an extremely high melting point, and is a critical component for high-end drills, electric vehicles, and military hardware. Australian Defence Minister Linda Reynolds once noted that each F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jet requires 417 kg of rare earth and critical minerals. However, global tungsten production is largely controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), who produce 82 percent of world tungsten supply, along with several other mineral supply chains. In recent years, the Australian and U.S. governments have moved to develop supply chains outside of …