...In contrast, gold acts as a universal store of value and a reserve asset for central banks. While gold may not exert the same regional influence, it holds significant importance during economic uncertainty.
The underlying issue is that China produces a large amount of both silver and gold. It is also the main producer of rare earth elements even if much of its ores originate in Burma.
So if China decided to monetize silver domestically, and export gold as needed to balance foreign accounts...in other words if they decided to sell gold and not export silver....it would devastate the United States in the Americas.
Within the United States the number one domestic security issue the government focuses on is a potential challenge from indigenous sovereignty types. There is no other domestic issue that even comes close.
So the United States has tried to cover itself using its usual tricks, but at some point simple realities will win.
That seems to be why the UK has been shifting its focus sharply towards Australia.