CORRECTED-(OFFICIAL)-Eyeing China, Pentagon briefs new report on rare earth minerals

The U.S. Defense Department has briefed Congress on a report on rare earth minerals as it looks to reduce American reliance on China, a Pentagon spokesman told Reuters on Wednesday, amid mounting concern in Washington about Beijing's role as a supplier.

"The department continues to work closely with the president, Congress and the industrial base to mitigate U.S. reliance on China for rare earth minerals," said Lieutenant Colonel Mike Andrews, a spokesman. (Reporting by Phil Stewart and Andrea Shalal; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Sonya Hepinstall)