China has been buying mining operations around the world for years to sate its appetite for raw materials, which remains much stronger than what it can produce domestically. Over the past couple of years, however, this shopping spree has accelerated—Chinese investors are in a rush. In 2023, Chinese companies invested some $16 billion in mines globally, and this did not include minority stake purchases, the Economist reported in November last year. The publication listed several large deals, including a $5-billion investment in a copper mine…