A public enterprise producing strategic materials would still face competition from China. If it had to finance itself entirely through sales, its tax and operating conditions would need to support that requirement. An alternative would size the enterprise around expected wartime needs and operate it commercially during peace. Breaking even could be acceptable when the purpose is to keep a working source of supply available. Government involvement can therefore vary with the resilience sought and the financial burden it is willing to carry. Even this capacity is judged unlikely to meet every wartime demand.
Notable Point · 8:50:17-8:51:35
Keeping strategic-material production available in peacetime
Public production of strategic materials can be judged by the capacity it preserves as well as by peacetime profit.