Well i guess that answers my question about why the US, who want to secure their own critical mineral supply chain, would back a company partnered solely with China. Namely to back that company so it can be onsold to US interests, on the proviso that the company's existing partnership with China is somehow terminated so that it can be transferred to US ownership without links to China!
While actually doing so may entail some obvious challenges, this is the best news I think we've seen in years. Clearly I was wrong in my assessment of what was happening behind the scenes. Fingers crossed things progress as outlined.
Some may view an end result in which AVZ gets just the southern tenement and on-sells it as not a true victory, as its still partly un-just and would still end up rewarding the illegal actions of Zijin et al. However given the shitshow weve seen and the uncertainies of claiming an ICSID penalty, I would view that outcome favourably. Depending on the price of that sale, of course. But shareholders would at least be compensated in some way for the suffering we've faced.
On the face of it - amazing development.