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All influence is economic. Weapons and ammunition and soldiers cost money. China`s influence in the underdeveloped world over strategic raw materials should be of great concern to developed world strategic planners. Rare earth metals are a commonly cited example.

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Not at all.a few years ago, the Chinese monopoly over so called rare earths threatened to increase prices of all electronics. But it took barely 2 years for new mines to be opened outside China profitably and the monopoly was broken. Ammunition is very rarely a market demand. It's dealt by govt bureaucracy and shady arms brokers. I.e nothing to do with economic activity. War is always a political act.

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