In a significant escalation of U.S.-China trade tensions, Representative John Moolenaar, chair of a U.S. House of Representatives committee on China, has called for stringent measures against Chinese airlines. On Thursday, Moolenaar urged the Trump administration to restrict or suspend Chinese airline landing rights in the U.S. unless Beijing reinstates full access to rare earths and magnets. The Republican lawmaker also advocated for a review of export control policies related to the sale of commercial aircraft, parts, and maintenance services to China. Moolenaar emphasized that such actions would convey a strong message to Beijing, highlighting that disrupting critical supplies to U.S. defense industries would not go unanswered. Rare earths, comprising 17 essential elements, are vital for manufacturing products ranging from military equipment to electric vehicles and consumer electronics. China, which dominates the global rare earths market, imposed export restrictions on these materials in April 2023 in response to U.S. tariff increases. Meanwhile, U.S. airlines are operating significantly fewer flights to China than permitted, reflecting low demand. Recent reports suggest China may purchase up to 500 Boeing aircraft as part of ongoing trade negotiations. The U.S. Transportation Department recently extended flight approvals for major U.S. carriers, allowing only 48 weekly flights to China out of 119 authorized. Chinese airlines maintain a similar number of flights to the U.S. The dispute over air travel between the two nations has been a recurring issue, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and allegations of anti-competitive practices by the Chinese government. Neither U.S. airline representatives nor the Chinese Embassy in Washington have commented on the latest developments.