Their study was published in the academic journal Defence Industry Conversion in China, which is supervised by the national defence technology authority and aims to encourage the military-civilian dual use of technology.
The study also described Yunnan – which borders Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam – as an “irreplaceable gateway” to resources on the Indochinese peninsula that provided an “effective solution” to China’s so-called Malacca dilemma.
This refers to Beijing’s heavy reliance on the Strait of Malacca for trade, a vulnerability that adversaries could exploit during periods of high tension.
“Yunnan acts as a land-based lifeline that ensures the supply of mineral raw materials required for the defence industry in wartime or extreme scenarios remains free from maritime power constraints, making it the most reliable and controllable strategic guarantee corridor for critical mineral resources,” the report said.
The study proposed measures to use Yunnan’s advantages in strategic minerals to build rapid-response capabilities for potential crises and supply-chain resilience against external disruptions.