Japan Successfully Extracts Rare Earth Minerals from Deep Sea, Aims to Reduce Chinese Dependence

Japan has successfully completed a groundbreaking deep-sea mineral extraction operation. Using the deep-sea drilling vessel Chikyu, the country collected sediment samples at nearly 6,000 meters depth near Minamitorishima Island, approximately 2,000 kilometers southeast of Tokyo. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi emphasized this as the first step in developing a domestic rare earth minerals industry, with the aim of creating a sustainable supply chain and reducing dependency on any single country. This achievement comes amid increasing tensions with China, particularly following Takaichi's comments about potential Japanese involvement in a Taiwan scenario, which led China to suspend exports of dual-use goods to Japan.