Japan Announces Extraction of Rare Earth Deposits from 6,000 Meters Below the Sea Floor in Effort to Reduce Dependence on China

On Monday, Japan announced that it had extracted sediment containing rare earth elements from a depth of 6,000 meters during a sea trial mission. It is estimated that the waters around Japan's Okinotorishima Island contain over 16 million tons of rare earths, potentially making it the third largest rare earth deposit in the world.

On Monday, Japan announced that it had extracted rare-earth-containing sediments from a depth of 6,000 meters during a trial mission at sea. Japan is trying to reduce its reliance on China for these strategic minerals.

The Tokyo government stated that this was the first attempt globally to mine rare earths at such a deep water location.

Japanese government spokesperson Sato Kei said, "We will analyze the detailed information, especially the exact content of rare earths in the samples." He called the discovery "a major achievement from both an economic security and marine development perspective."

The sample was collected by the Japanese research vessel "Chikyū," which sailed toward the remote Okinotorishima Island in the Pacific Ocean in mid-January. The surrounding waters of the island are believed to possibly hold rich valuable minerals.

"Major Strategic Advantage"

"Rare earths" – a group of 17 metal elements that are not particularly scarce but are difficult and costly to extract – are essential for various sectors of the economy (automotive, renewable energy, digital technology, defense, etc.), used in manufacturing powerful magnets, catalysts, and electronic components.

According to reports, the waters around Okinotorishima, within Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), are estimated to contain more than 16 million tons of rare earths, making it the third largest rare earth deposit in the world, according to Nikkei News.

According to calculations by Nikkei News, these rich deposits could meet global demand for dysprosium for 730 years, used in high-performance magnets for smartphones and electric vehicles; and for yttrium for 780 years, used in laser manufacturing.

However, environmentalists have warned that such mining activities would threaten ecosystems and damage the seabed environment.

With growing concerns about U.S. President Trump's desire to accelerate this practice in international waters, this issue has become a focal point of geopolitical tensions.

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is responsible for managing ocean resources beyond national jurisdictions and aims to establish global regulations to govern deep-sea mining activities.

The Japanese trial extraction was carried out within Japan's territorial waters.

Researcher Takahiro Kamao from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) told AFP, "If Japan can continuously mine rare earths around Okinotorishima, it will ensure the security of domestic supply chains in key areas."

He added, "Similarly, this will also be an important strategic advantage for the Japanese government, significantly reducing its reliance on Chinese supplies."

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), China accounts for nearly two-thirds of global rare earth production and 92% of refined production.

Source: rfi

Original: toutiao.com/article/1856051110240713/

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