6,000 meters below the Pacific Ocean, Japan is seeking independence from China in the field of rare earths

It’s called Minamitorishima, It is a small atoll in the Pacific Ocean. It is one of the most remote islands in Japan The archipelago is so huge that it is located about 2,000 kilometers southeast of Tokyo. However, from the depths of the surrounding seas may come a tremendous gift to the country’s economy.

There, 6,000 meters below sea level, a group of Japanese researchers succeeded in a truly impossible mission: recovering sediments containing… Rare earth elements From one of the most promising underwater deposits discovered in recent years.

This achievement is set to strengthen Japan’s role in the increasingly important rare earths sector, an essential component of the industry The trade war between China and the United States. Indeed, Japan is the only major industrial country that has been able, although partly at risk, to significantly reduce its dependence on Beijing.

“Mission Impossible” at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean

Operation Minamitorishima, conducted using a deep-sea scientific drill ship ChikyoIt represents the world’s first attempt to take samples from such depths.

The Japanese government described the result as “an important milestone in terms of economic security and comprehensive maritime development,” stressing that ongoing analysis will now have to accurately determine the quantity and quality of elements found in the extracted samples. But beyond the technical aspect, the value of the project is above all strategic.

Rare earths are a group of 17 minerals important for advanced technologies. They are used in the production of high-strength magnets for electric cars, wind turbines, electronic devices, semiconductors, radar systems, missiles, and more. Elements such as dysprosium and YttriumThe area around Minamitorishima contains reserves estimated at 730 and 780 years of consumption, respectively, and has become important materials for modern industry and defense. According to some estimates, the Japanese submarine’s stockpile could contain more than 16 million tons of rare earths, constituting the third largest reserve in the world.

The shock of 2010 and the strategic shift

Tokyo’s race toward achieving self-sufficiency in the mining sector did not start today. Its roots go back to 2010, when a diplomatic crisis with Beijing clearly exposed Japan’s weakness.

After an accident between a Chinese fishing boat and two Japanese Coast Guard units near the Senkaku Islands, China banned rare earth exports to Japan for about two months. At the time, Tokyo relied on Beijing for more than 90% of its imports of these materials. The blockade caused panic in various industries, especially in the automotive sector, and global prices for rare earths increased tenfold within one year.

That crisis was a strategic shock. Unlike other industrialized countries, which viewed this episode as a limited or temporary pressure in those years, Tokyo interpreted it as a structural signal. Over-reliance on a single supplier, primarily a regional competitor, posed an existential threat to the advanced and highly industrialized economy.

Since then, Japan has radically changed its strategy. The government has launched an extraordinary package of measures: investing in technologies to reduce the use of rare earth elements, developing alternative materials, promoting recycling, acquiring stakes in mines abroad – especially in Australia, with the support of the Lynas Group – and creating strategic stockpiles.

As a result of this policy, Japan’s dependence on China has steadily declined. It has reached about 50 percent in recent years, a level that no other country has been able to match. The decisive factor in the strategy’s success was its integrated approach.

Japan not only looked for new suppliers, but also worked simultaneously on multiple fronts. Japanese companies, with government support, have invested in developing magnets that use less dysprosium. At the same time, research programs on alternative materials have been strengthened. This aspect is crucial: reducing dependence means not only changing suppliers, but also reducing structural needs.

Inventory, innovation and competitive advantage

Another key factor, according to analysts, is inventory. The Japanese government has established strategic reserves of rare earth elements to mitigate any temporary supply disruptions. However, this seemingly simple choice requires a long-term vision and the availability of capital, which not all countries are willing or able to mobilize. Stockpiles do not eliminate dependence, but they save valuable time in the event of a shock, allowing the industry to adapt without immediate shutdown.

Added to these elements is a structural feature of the Japanese economy: high technological integration. Japan is not only an importer of rare earth elements, but also a leading player in converting them into high value-added components. This expertise has facilitated innovation and reduced intensity of use of biomaterials. In other words, the ability to do more with less has become a competitive advantage.