A newly uncovered campaign by Chinese threat actors trying to boost opposition to Western rare earth processing plants showcases that China's information campaign is now expanding to target strategic industries. China's threat actors created fake accounts on social media to criticize rare earth mining companies and planned manufacturing facilities in Texas, U.S. cybersecurity firm Mandiant reported June 28. Mandiant, which has named the Chinese information campaign DRAGONBRIDGE, said it identified accounts used as part of the scheme on multiple social media channels, including Facebook and Twitter, as well as at least one online forum. The campaign first targeted Australian rare earth mining and processing firm Lynas Rare Earths with accounts posing as local residents concerned about Lynas' proposed light rare earth separation plant in Hondo, Texas. In February 2021, the U.S. Department of Defense awarded Lynas a $30.4 million contract under the Defense Production Act to help build the plant.