ALBAWABA- Japan launched the world’s first deep-sea rare earth mining trial, marking a strategic move to secure critical mineral supplies and reduce dependence on China.
The month-long operation involves the research vessel Chikyu extracting mineral-rich seabed mud from depths of about 6,000 meters near Minamitori Island in the Pacific Ocean.
The project is led by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology and is aimed at developing domestic sources of rare earth elements (REEs) vital for electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and defense technologies.
The trial comes amid rising economic and geopolitical tensions with Beijing. On January 6, China announced new restrictions on exports of dual-use items to Japan, including certain rare earths and high-performance magnets, citing national security concerns.
The measures, which affect both civilian and military supply chains, have disrupted deliveries to Japanese manufacturers, with reports of suspended contracts and delayed export permits.
Japan sourced roughly 63% of its rare earth imports from China in 2024, and industry estimates suggest a three-month disruption could result in production losses of up to $4.3 billion.
The export curbs follow a sharp deterioration in bilateral relations after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warned in November 2025 that a Chinese military move against Taiwan could pose an “existential threat” to Japan, potentially justifying defensive action.
Beijing condemned the remarks as interference in its internal affairs and responded with a series of retaliatory steps, including travel advisories and suspensions of Japanese seafood imports.
The standoff risks broader supply chain disruptions for global technology and manufacturing sectors, recalling China’s 2010 rare earth export halt that prompted Japan’s earlier diversification efforts.
If the current deep-sea trial proves commercially viable, Japanese officials say larger-scale extraction could follow, with expanded trials targeted for 2027, potentially reshaping global rare earth supply dynamics.
