• Japan launches the first deep-sea trial to address reliance on Chinese rare earths.
• The mission involves the Chikyu vessel probing seabed sludge rich in critical minerals.
• China has recently imposed bans affecting rare earth exports to Japan.
• The project could significantly impact Japan's automotive industry dependency on China.
• A long-term solution aims to establish a domestic supply chain for rare earths.

A Japanese mining ship departed on January 12 for Minamitori Island, where it aims to probe mud rich in rare earths, marking a significant step in Japan's efforts to reduce dependency on China for critical minerals as tensions rise between the two nations. The Chikyu vessel's month-long mission is the world's first attempt to continuously lift rare-earth seabed sludge from a depth of 6 kilometers, according to Channel News Asia and Reuters.

This initiative comes in response to China's recent bans on exports of items related to Japan's military that also encompass critical minerals, further heightening Japan’s urgency to secure its rare earth supplies. As reported, Japan has condemned these dual-use export bans but has opted not to comment on broader restrictions that may be in place, highlighting the diplomatic complexities surrounding this resource struggle, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

Japan’s dependency on China for rare earths has diminished from 90% to 60% since the last major disruption in 2010, attributed to investments in overseas mining projects and advancements in recycling technologies. However, the new initiative at Minamitori Island seeks to establish a domestic supply solution as Japan aims to bolster its industrial supply chain resilience against geopolitical risks, states Shoichi Ishii, head of the government-backed project, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

The government has allocated approximately 40 billion yen (equivalent to $250 million) to the Minamitori Island project since 2018, although no definite production targets have emerged as of yet. Following the initial explorations, a full-scale mining trial is scheduled for February 2027. If successful, this could transform the mining viability of seabed minerals, especially if supply disruptions from China continue, according to industry analysts, as noted by Channel News Asia and Reuters.

However, challenges remain, particularly concerning the reliance on heavy rare earths essential for electric vehicle technology, which continues to be a risk for Japan’s automotive sector. To counter these risks, government officials emphasize the necessity for continuous diversification of supply chains amongst Japanese companies, as highlighted by Kazumi Nishikawa, the principal director of economic security at Japan's trade ministry, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.