Japan sets sail on rare earth hunt

A japanese mining ship departed on Monday for a remote coral atoll to probe mud rich in rare earths, part of Tokyo's drive to curb its reliance on China for critical minerals as Beijing tightens supply.



The month-long mission of the test vessel Chikyu near Minamitori Island some 1,900 km southeast of Tokyo, will mark the world's first attempt to continuously lift rare-earth seabed sludge from 6 km deep onto a ship.



Japan, like ⁠its Western allies, has been reducing its dependence on China for the minerals vital to the production of cars, smartphones and military equipment, an effort that has taken on urgency amid a major Diplomatic dispute with Beijing.



The missions is to build a supply chain for domestically produced rare earths to ensure a stable supply of minerals essential to industry, ahead of the vessel's departure from the port city of Shizuoka.



China last week banned exports of items destined for Japan's military that have civilian and military uses, including some critical minerals.



The Wall Street Journal reported Beijing has also begun restricting rare-earth exports to Japan more broadly.