Excelent links by Okiedo.  I think China purposely decreased Li prices to squeeze world Li manufacturing and run young mines out of business, or make them completely uninvestable. 

I have a very good understanding of how the communist economy works, China does not have to make any money from their mines, it belong to the government anyway and they can make a profit in the end by selling EVs. We reached the bottom, so things should get better, I hope.