Media expose could strengthen Chinese tungsten crackdown

摘要

The latest crackdown on illegal tungsten in China is likely to be more severe than in recent years after the practice was the subject of an expose on national television, traders said. The probe into illegal mining has been underway since China's leading television network, CCTV, ran a programme in late May about illegal mining in Zixin county in central Hunan province. According to the popular 'Focus' programme, government officials in the area who were tasked with preventing unregulated mining were secretly developing the mines ngsten crackdown themselves. The officials managed to sell at least 10,000 tonnes of tungsten ore before being discovered, the programme alleged. The publicity generated means this year's investigations could have a longer lasting effect than previous attempts to crack down on illegal mining. Recent attempts to stop illegal mining have often led to temporary shutdowns, only for mines to reopen shortly afterwards.