Japan has announced the extraction of rare earth elements from 6,000 meters deep, a world premiere, to reduce dependence on China.

Japan has achieved a world first by extracting sediments containing rare earth elements from a depth of 6,000 meters, as part of a deep-sea testing mission. This discovery, made by the research vessel Chikyu, is considered a significant achievement for Japan's economic security, occurring in the context of pressures from China, the world's main supplier of these strategic minerals.

The area around Minami Torishima Island is estimated to contain over 16 million tons of rare earth elements, which could secure the national supply for essential sectors such as technology and defense.

However, ecologists warn about the negative impact on marine ecosystems. This initiative could significantly reduce Japan's dependence on China, which controls the majority of global rare earth production.