The article by Lee Jeong-yeon highlights recent visits by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang to significant industrial sites in Beijing and Jiangxi Province, respectively. These visits come ahead of the Lunar New Year, a time when China's leadership traditionally sets the policy tone for the year. Their focus on advanced technology and rare earths underscores the importance of these sectors in China's strategic ambitions and geopolitical positioning.

Xi's visit to the National Information Technology Application Innovation Industrial Park is indicative of China's push towards self-reliance in high-tech industries like semiconductors and artificial intelligence. These areas are not only viewed as vital for economic growth but are also seen as critical to China's national security and competitive edge over the United States. Li's tour of the rare earths sector further emphasizes the significance of securing essential mineral resources, which are pivotal in high-tech manufacturing.

The article infers that the continuing investments and policy directives outlined by Xi and Li are part of a broader strategy to enhance China's standing on the global stage by fortifying its technological and mineral independence. As China strives for dominance, these sectors become battlegrounds for technological contests, particularly in the context of escalating US-China tensions in cutting-edge industries.