Japan and the U.S. Collaborate on Rare Earths Development

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced plans to discuss the joint development of deep-sea rare earths with U.S. President Donald Trump during their upcoming meeting. This initiative follows Japan's successful retrieval of sediment containing rare earths from ocean depths of 6,000 meters near Minamitorishima island. The sediment, which includes 17 essential metals used in various technologies such as electric vehicles and missiles, was collected by the deep-sea scientific drilling vessel Chikyu, which embarked on its mission in January.

The Straits TimesJapan, US to discuss joint rare earths development: Takaichi

The collaboration between Japan and the U.S. is part of a broader strategy to reduce dependence on China for rare earth minerals. Both nations, alongside other countries, are increasingly concerned about China's dominance in this sector, which has been leveraged for geopolitical influence. Takaichi highlighted that discussions on resource development began during Trump's visit to Japan in October of the previous year, and concrete talks have been ongoing since February regarding the development of marine mineral resources.

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The backdrop to this initiative includes heightened tensions between Japan and China. Following Takaichi's comments in November about Japan's potential military response to a Chinese attack on Taiwan, Beijing has intensified pressure on Tokyo. This has included blocking exports of "dual-use" items—goods that can be used for both civilian and military purposes—raising concerns in Japan about the security of its rare earth supplies.

Japan, US to discuss joint rare earths development: Takaichi

In her address to Parliament, Takaichi stated, “We will be discussing the specifics of what such cooperation should look like,” emphasizing the importance of the upcoming discussions with the U.S. regarding rare earths development. The partnership aligns with a critical minerals initiative unveiled by the U.S. in February, which also includes collaboration with the European Union.

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While the initiative has been framed as a necessary step for resource security, critics argue that reliance on deep-sea mining could have significant environmental impacts. Concerns have been raised about the ecological consequences of extracting minerals from ocean floors, which could disrupt marine ecosystems.

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There is a lack of detailed information regarding the specific terms of the proposed cooperation between Japan and the U.S. Additionally, the extent of China's influence and the potential repercussions of its actions on Japan's rare earth supply chain remain areas of concern that require further exploration.

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• “We discussed resource development when President Trump visited Japan in October last year, and since February, Japan and the US have begun concrete discussions on cooperating regarding development of marine mineral resources,” — Sanae Takaichi, Prime Minister of Japan

The Straits Times

• “We will be discussing the specifics of what such cooperation should look like.” — Sanae Takaichi, Prime Minister of Japan

The Straits Times

This joint initiative marks a significant step in the ongoing efforts by Japan and the U.S. to secure critical resources while navigating complex geopolitical dynamics in the Asia-Pacific region.

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