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Japan Retrieves Rare Earths from Deep Seabed, Reducing Reliance on China
Japan has successfully retrieved sediment containing rare earth elements from a depth of 6,000 meters (20,000 feet) in the Pacific Ocean, marking a important step towards securing its supply chain and decreasing its dependence on China, the dominant producer of these critical minerals. The mission, conducted by the deep-sea drilling vessel Chikyu, is reported to be the world’s first attempt to tap deep-sea rare earths at such depths, according to government officials as reported by France 24.
Strategic Importance and Geopolitical Context
This development comes amid escalating geopolitical tensions with China and concerns over potential export restrictions. In November, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi hinted at possible military response to any attack on Taiwan, prompting Beijing to impose restrictions on exports of ”dual-use” items to Japan. This raised fears that China might further restrict rare earth supplies, some of which are included in the dual-use export controls according to Reuters.
Rare Earths: A Critical resource
Rare earth elements – a group of 17 metals – are essential components in a wide range of modern technologies, including electric vehicles, smartphones, wind turbines, and defense systems as highlighted by the international Energy Agency. Their unique magnetic and conductive properties make them irreplaceable in manny applications.
Abundant Reserves Around Minami Torishima
The exploration focused on the waters surrounding Minami Torishima, a remote Japanese island. estimates suggest the area holds over 16 million tons of rare earths, ranking it as the third-largest reserve globally according to the Nikkei Asian Review. Specifically,the deposits are estimated to contain enough dysprosium
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