Japan Sends Mining Ship To Probe Rare Earths As It Seeks To Cut Reliance On China
Edited By WION Video Desk
Published: Jan 12, 2026, 14:51 IST | Updated: Jan 12, 2026, 14:51 IST
Japan has sent its drilling-equipped research vessel Chikyu from Shimizu port to conduct a month-long mission to probe rare-earth-rich seabed mud near Minamitori Island, a remote coral atoll about 1,900 km southeast of Tokyo, marking the world’s first continuous attempt to lift rare earth sludge from around 6 km deep onto a ship as Tokyo moves to reduce reliance on China for critical minerals amid tightening exports
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