I can see where this is going, the US also has huge deposits, but environmental laws will probably never allow it to be dug up, and they currently rely on an enemy (China) to get their fix. Now we hear of deposits in Thailand, where regulations and laws can be circumvented with a brown envelope, expect the US to come knocking. Hey, at least if it's dug up in a country that could care less about it's environment, then the US can claim the high ground. Let the poisoning and exploitation of the poor commence.