Japan says rare earth found in sediment retrieved on deep-sea mission

Sediment containing rare earth was retrieved from ocean depths of 6000 metres about 20000 feet on a Japanese test mission the government said Monday as it seeks to curb dependence on China for the valuable mineralsJapan says the mission was the worlds first bid to tap deep sea rare earths at such a depthDetails will be analysed including exactly how much rare earth is contained in the sample government spokesman Kei Sato said calling it a meaningful achievement both in terms of economic security and comprehensive maritime developmentThe sample was collected by a deepsea scientific drilling boat called the Chikyu that set sail last month for the remote island of Minami Torishima in the Pacific where surrounding waters are believed to contain a rich trove of valuable mineralsIt comes as China by far the worlds biggest supplier of rare earths ramps up pressure on its neighbour after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested in November that Tokyo may react militarily to an attack on Taiwan which Beijing has vowed to seize control of by force if necessaryBeijing has blocked exports to Japan of dualuse items with potential military uses fuelling worries in Japan that it could choke supplies of rare earths some of which are included in Chinas list of such goodsRare earths 17 metals difficult to extract from the Earths crust are used in everything from electric vehicles to hard drives wind turbines and missilesThe area around Minami Torishima which is in Japans economic waters is estimated to contain more than 16 million tons of rare earths which the Nikkei business daily says is the thirdlargest reserve globallyThese rich deposits contain an estimated 730 years worth of dysprosium used in highstrength magnets in phones and electric cars and 780 years worth of yttrium used in lasers the Nikkei saidEnvironmental concernsEnvironmental campaigners warn deepsea mining threatens marine ecosystems and will disrupt the sea floorThe issue has become a geopolitical flashpoint with anxiety growing over a push by US President Donald Trump to fasttrack the practice in international watersThe International Seabed Authority ISA which has jurisdiction over the ocean floor outside national waters is pushing for the adoption of a global code to regulate mining in the ocean depthsBut the Japanese test mission was carried out within its own territorial waters If Japan could successfully extract rare earths around Minami Torishima constantly it will secure domestic supply chain for key industries Takahiro Kamisuna research associate at The International Institute for Strategic Studies IISS told AFPLikewise it will be a key strategic asset for Takaichis government to significantly reduce the supply chain dependence on China Beijing has long used its dominance in rare earths for geopolitical leverage including in its trade war with US President Donald Trumps administrationChina accounts for almost twothirds of rare earth mining production and 92 percent of global refined output according to the International Energy AgencyThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever