Japan launches world’s first deep sea trial to secure own rare earth supply
Tokyo has been reducing its dependence on China for the critical minerals amid a major diplomatic dispute with Beijing
The month-long mission of the test vessel Chikyu near Minamitori island some 1,900km (1,200 miles) southeast of Tokyo, will mark the world’s first attempt to continuously lift rare earth seabed sludge from 6km deep onto a ship.
“One of our missions is to build a supply chain for domestically produced rare earths to ensure a stable supply of minerals essential to industry,” Shoichi Ishii, the head of the government-backed project, told reporters last month, ahead of the vessel’s departure from the port city of Shizuoka on a bright sunny day, with a snow-capped Mount Fuji in the background.
China last week banned exports of items destined for Japan’s military that have civilian and military uses, including some critical minerals. The Wall Street Journal reported Beijing had also begun restricting rare earth exports to Japan more broadly.
Japan has condemned China’s dual-use ban but declined to comment on the report of a broader ban, which China has not confirmed or denied. Chinese state media, though, have said Beijing was weighing the measure.