US lawmaker calls for restrictions on Chinese flights

Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.), chair of the House committee on China, is urging the Trump administration to suspend or restrict Chinese airlines’ landing rights in the U.S. unless Beijing restores full access to rare earths and magnets.

In a letter to President Donald J. Trump on Sept. 18, Moolenaar said Washington must act to protect key industries that rely on the restricted materials. “These steps would send a clear message to Beijing that it cannot choke off critical supplies to our defense industries without consequences to its own strategic sectors,” he wrote.

Moolenaar also called for a review of U.S. export policies covering the sale of commercial aircraft, parts and maintenance services to China. His letter followed China’s April decision to expand its export control list, adding rare earth items and magnets in response to U.S. tariff increases. Rare earths, a group of 17 elements, are vital to military equipment, lasers, magnets in electric vehicles, wind turbines and consumer electronics.

A commentary in the state-run Global Times dismissed Moolenaar’s proposal as “utterly absurd,” warning that tying aviation access to mineral trade could worsen tensions between the two countries.

The U.S. and China continue to operate limited flights under government agreements. U.S. airlines currently fly 48 weekly services to China, below the 119 approved, while Chinese carriers operate the same number of flights to the U.S. under a Transportation Department extension.