Policy Evolution of China’s Critical Metals: An Integrated Analysis of Instruments and Networks

Critical metals constitute essential raw materials for clean energy transition, making their policy evolution highly significant for global resource governance. Analyzing policy texts from China (1973–2024), this study develops a three-dimensional analytical framework—Instrument Type, Policy Objective, and Implementation Domain—integrated with social network analysis to investigate the characteristics and drivers of policy evolution. Findings indicate that China’s critical metal governance paradigm has shifted from securing resource supply to pursuing sustainability goals. Policy instruments have transitioned from authority-based dominance to diversified combinations, while the policy network, centered on the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), exhibits increasingly frequent interdepartmental collaboration. The evolution is shown to stem from the dynamic interdependence between policy instruments and network structures. This research provides theoretical and practical insights for optimizing critical metals governance systems.