A Japanese research mission has discovered deposits containing rare earth elements at a depth of 6,000 meters in the ocean. Japan aims to reduce its dependence on the supply of valuable minerals from China.
During a Japanese research mission at a depth of 6,000 meters in the ocean, deposits containing rare earth elements were discovered. This was reported by the government in Tokyo on Monday, February 2, as noted by DW.
Samples were collected by the deep-sea research drilling vessel "Chikyu," which set sail in December to the remote Japanese atoll Minamitorishima in the Pacific Ocean. According to scientists' estimates, more than 16 million tons of rare earths may be hidden in the surrounding waters - if confirmed, the deposit would become one of the largest in the world.
"If Japan can successfully extract rare earth elements in the Minamitorishima area on a regular basis, it will ensure an internal supply chain for key industries," commented Takahiro Kamisuna, a researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), to AFP.
He noted that this could also reduce dependence on rare earth supplies from China, which is a goal of the current Japanese government led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
China Restricts Supplies to Japan
In November, Takaichi - the first woman to lead the Japanese government - stated that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could be regarded as a "situation threatening the survival" of her country. Japanese legislation allows the use of the military in other countries if an attack on them poses a clear threat to Tokyo as well. Beijing has threatened retaliatory measures if the Japanese Prime Minister does not retract her statements.
On January 6, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced a ban on the export of dual-use goods to Japan. Some rare earths are included in this list.
Importance of Rare Earth Elements
Rare earth elements are 17 chemical elements with unique properties. They are essential for the production of high-tech devices, particularly in electronics and instrumentation. China is the leader in explored reserves of rare earth metals (44 million tons), followed by Vietnam (22 million tons), Brazil (21 million tons), Russia (10 million tons), and Greenland (2 million tons).
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