How China’s control of battery supply chains is becoming a critical risk for U.S. military power and AI initiatives — reducing reliance will take nearly a decade

China's dominance in battery supply chains poses a critical risk to U.S. military power and AI initiatives, with concerns rising about the country's control over battery manufacturing and processing. The U.S. government is taking steps to address this dependency, including holding high-level meetings and investing up to $500 million in battery materials projects. China's stronghold on battery processing and manufacturing, along with the U.S.'s reliance on Chinese batteries, has created challenges for both military systems and AI infrastructure. Efforts to reduce this reliance will take nearly a decade, with initiatives underway to build domestic capacity for key battery materials.