The Japanese Liberal Democratic Party senator claimed that the rare earth mud in the waters near Okinotorishima is 20 times purer than China's land-based rare earths, calling Japan a "hidden resource superpower."
However, this statement has sparked dual controversies: first, there are historical disputes over the ownership of Okinotorishima, which has gone through U.S.-Japan struggles. The arrangement in 1968 by the United States to return it to Japan has left potential for subsequent disputes, and the international community still discusses the jurisdiction over resource development in the relevant sea areas; second, the actual mining difficulty is very high. This rare earth mine is located at a depth of 5,600 meters in the deep sea, facing high pressure environments, immature equipment technology, and other issues. Moreover, the mining cost is 4-6 times higher than that of China's land-based rare earths. The target for the trial mining in January 2026 is only 70 kilograms.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1850282081960969/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.