- The US and Japan are collaborating to tap into rare earth deposits near Minamitorishima
- Japan plans to test extracting rare earths from depths of 5,000-6,000 meters in January
- China imposes new restrictions on rare earth exports, strengthening its control over key materials
The United States and Japan are working to exploit deep-sea deposits of rare earths deposited in the sea floor near Minamitorishima to lessen China's control over these essential minerals. This effort follows a recent summit between Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
Both nations have formed a strategic partnership for deep-sea mining to secure critical rare earth minerals, aiming to counter China's dominance and strengthen the global supply chain for advanced technology.
The United States and Japan are jointly working on projects along the entire rare earth supply chain, from mining and smelting to processing. The rare earths each country is considering are strategically significant as critical minerals for advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and military use.
Takaichi stated, “It is important for both Japan and the United States to secure diverse procurement methods. We are considering specific ways to proceed with cooperation”.
For her part, Prime Minister Takaichi has long supported utilizing Japan's untapped mineral resources despite the difficulties of working with rare earths on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.
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She suggests that the sediment located in the vicinity of Minamitorishima Island may constitute large deposits of highly prized minerals. Japan intends to conduct a feasibility test in January with an aim to find out if it is possible to extract rare earth-rich mud from depths of approximately 6,000 meters.
As evidenced by surveys, rare earth mud is present within Japan’s EEZ, which is a stretch of seabed measuring 429,000 km². Although Minamitorishima Island itself is only 151 hectares, it possesses strategic value because it establishes Japan's rights to the seabed and its resources.
In the meantime, China, the world's largest producer of rare earths, has imposed greater restraints on its rare earth exports, which are critical to a variety of products from electric vehicles to military equipment.
The restrictions had a total of 12 rare earths, including holmium, erbium, and europium, which only strengthens China's majority in the rare earth market.