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Bundit Pantrakon stands along the Sai River in Mai Sai, where the Thai army is building surveillance barriers along the river that forms the border between Thailand and Myanmar.

Michael Sullivan for NPR

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Michael Sullivan for NPR

Bundit Pantrakon stands along the Sai River in Mai Sai, where the Thai army is building surveillance barriers along the river that forms the border between Thailand and Myanmar.

Michael Sullivan for NPR

China has almost moved the market in rare ground minerals, which is a necessary component for most of our technology today. But China is the sources of some rare land and other heavy metals from the neighboring Myanmar. Residents of production there cause environmental fears towards the river course in Thailand. We go to Thailand to understand the case.