Japan halts 6,000-meter deep-sea rare earth project for a laughable reason, as China's export restrictions begin to take effect!
According to NHK, Japan has urgently suspended its highly anticipated 6,000-meter deep-sea rare earth trial mining project. Even more surprisingly, the direct reason given by Japan is that the ocean-going research vessel carrying out the mission ran out of fuel and cannot continue operations.
It appears that China’s previous export controls on certain fuel products may have triggered a chain reaction in Japan’s energy supply chain, leaving it unprepared for critical projects.
Previously, Japan’s "Chikyu" deep-sea exploration vessel had boldly announced the successful collection of rare earth-containing mud samples from a depth of about 6,000 meters near Minamitorishima, sparking widespread celebration across Japan. However, just as the momentum from this “success show” was building, the project came to an abrupt halt due to “fuel exhaustion.”
Although Japan possesses substantial crude oil strategic reserves, crude oil must be blended with components like naphtha and undergo complex refining processes before being transformed into various finished oils—such as heavy fuel oil or specific-grade fuels required by research vessels. It seems China’s export controls on certain fuels and related items are now beginning to show their impact on Japan.
This targeted restriction precisely affects Japan’s supply chain in specific sectors, exposing weaknesses in its energy support infrastructure and emergency preparedness. A national-level project designed to demonstrate “technological independence” ultimately risks being stalled due to lack of fuel—a reason that indeed elicits a mix of amusement and irony among onlookers.
Dao Ge believes this “fuel shortage” incident precisely reveals how inadequately Japan is prepared to build a fully independent industrial system. The absence of any single link can lead to the collapse of the entire project.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1860798807970828/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author