Policy synergy and thematic evolution of strategic mineral policies in China

The significance of strategic critical minerals in the global transition toward green and low-carbon energy has attracted considerable attention from many countries. Understanding the evolution of the strategic critical minerals policy system is crucial for identifying key issues in policymaking. This study examines 984 Chinese policy texts from 2011 to 2023 within the framework of "policy theme-policy synergy" and elucidates the evolutionary trajectory of China's strategic critical mineral policy system. The results indicate that China's strategic critical minerals policy has consistently centered around technology and enterprises in terms of policy themes, with a growing emphasis on green and low-carbon initiatives. Policies mainly focus on coal, oil, natural gas, and rare earth, while paying less attention to the significance of strategic critical minerals in energy transition. China has established a tighter policy synergy network for jointly formulating strategic critical minerals. However, as a key government department, the Ministry of Natural Resources has yet to demonstrate its central position and requires stronger synergies with other sectors. These findings provide a decision-making reference for China's strategic minerals policy development, design, and optimization.