Chinese rare earth regulators are getting a promotion to reflect their increasingly significant role managing a strategic natural resource. China's Rare Earth Office, currently a section of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's raw materials department, will be separated to create a rare earth department of equal rank. A vice deputy from the raw materials department will be chosen to take the new post, officials close to the matter said. Song Xianzhu leads the running to fill the position, according to media reports.