Japanese Media: Why Is Japan Still Dependent on China Despite Abundant Rare Earth Reserves?

A Japanese automotive media outlet, WEB CARTOP, has analyzed China's dominance in rare earth resources.

The article states: Rare earth elements are globally highly dependent on China. Due to export restrictions imposed by China, Japan has found it increasingly difficult to import these materials, making this issue a hot topic.

The periodic table contains 118 elements, among which rare earths refer to 17 specific elements. Although the name suggests rarity, they are actually abundant in the Earth’s crust—the outermost layer—and their reserves exceed those of precious metals like gold and silver.

So why are rare earths considered scarce? It is because extracting them from minerals containing rare earths is extremely challenging.

For example, if rare earth minerals are mixed with radioactive ones, refining is required to manage radiation hazards. Moreover, handling the resulting radioactive waste poses a significant challenge.

In the early 1990s, China began strategically treating rare earths as a resource of equal importance to oil. China indeed holds substantial reserves—about 40% of the world’s total. Other countries such as Vietnam, Brazil, Russia, South Africa, and others also have rare earth deposits. However, over 70% of refined rare earth products come from China.

Why did rare earths become so important after the 1990s? For instance, in the automotive industry, Toyota started selling hybrid vehicles with the Prius in 1997; Mitsubishi followed in 2009, and Nissan launched its own hybrid models in 2010—all of which utilized rare earth-based engines.

Synchronous permanent magnet motors use permanent magnets with magnetic strength ten times that of ferrite magnets, enabling heavy vehicles to achieve high speeds. To enhance magnetic performance, neodymium—a rare earth element—is used. Since neodymium magnets lose magnetism at high temperatures, dysprosium is added to maintain stability.

Without rare earths, the production of hybrid and electric vehicles would be impossible.

There are, however, electric motors driven entirely by electromagnets. The front wheels of Nissan Ariya and four-wheel-drive models from BYD and Tesla use battery iron-driven electromagnets. Yet, electromagnets are larger than permanent magnet motors and cannot be used in high-voltage motor systems.

Regarding Japan’s efforts to reduce dependence on Chinese rare earths, it has been confirmed that vast quantities of rare earth-rich mud lie beneath the seabed of Minami-Tori-shima Island, at a depth of 5,800 meters. However, whether this can be commercially viable remains uncertain and depends on future developments. China’s global success in rare earth exports stems from its ability to make the process commercially profitable.

Chinese rare earth mining involves refining radioactive minerals, and disposing of leftover radioactive waste has long been a persistent problem. Later, researchers discovered that this residual material could serve as fuel for nuclear power generation—specifically in thorium molten salt reactors.

Several years ago, a test reactor achieved criticality. Unlike conventional light-water reactors, thorium molten salt reactors significantly reduce electricity costs, ensure safety, and prevent accidents similar to those at Fukushima Daiichi during the Great East Japan Earthquake. They can also safely handle the high-level radioactive waste currently stored on Minami-Tori-shima Island. This makes them the optimal solution for next-generation nuclear reactors.

In other words, China possesses absolute technological advantages in both rare earth refining and radioactive waste management, allowing it to fully utilize thorium left over from rare earth processing.

Producing rare earths is not merely about securing supply—it requires comprehensive strategic planning to build safe nuclear power plants and secure sources for autonomous driving and artificial intelligence technologies.

If the rare earth industry lacks an integrated end-to-end process, it will never be able to compete with China.

Original Source: toutiao.com/article/1870336741404745/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.