Beijing – China’s aggressive gold accumulation is raising alarms globally, as environmental fallout and market distortions emerge alongside record demand.
Driven by strategic reserve goals and retail investor enthusiasm, China's gold imports have surged, pushing global prices higher. However, critics warn the trend has a dark side, with mining-linked pollution in Africa and Southeast Asia, and rising fears of speculative bubbles.
In Cameroon, Chinese-backed mines have been linked to mercury and cyanide contamination, displacing communities and damaging ecosystems. At home, Beijing faces pressure to regulate domestic mining operations more strictly.
“This is not just a financial story, it’s an environmental and geopolitical one,” said a Hong Kong-based commodities analyst.
Meanwhile, analysts warn that intense buying by retail investors, reminiscent of the 2013 dama gold rush, may expose households to future losses if prices correct.
