New Delhi, Nov. 7 -- China is stepping up its investments in Africa's critical minerals sector, backing more than $16 billion worth of projects in mineral processing and manufacturing as Beijing seeks to consolidate its influence over resources vital to the global economy.

The push comes amid intensifying competition with the United States for access to critical minerals, including copper, cobalt, iron ore and rare earths.

These resources are essential to advanced manufacturing, clean energy technologies and defence industries, making control over their supply chains an increasingly important geopolitical lever.

A report by Beijing-based consultancy Development Reimagined, cited by the South China Morning Post, found that Chinese inves...