Japan will extract deep-sea minerals in January

Japan will begin the world's first deep-sea extraction of rare earth minerals in January, aiming to secure resources vital for modern technology. The Japanese government will use the scientific drilling boat Chikyu to retrieve sediment from the ocean floor at a depth of 5,500 meters near Minami Torishima. This initiative follows a pledge to collaborate with the U.S., India, and Australia on critical mineral supply. This deep-sea mining project comes amid growing geopolitical tensions and concerns over China's dominance in rare earth production, which are essential for various technologies. Environmental concerns about the impact of deep-sea mining are also being raised.