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Japan pursues mineral security amid G7 and China tensions

Updated 4 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-08-19 15:20 UTC → 2026-08-22 21:16 UTC · added removed

In mid-June 2026, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi conducted a diplomatic tour of the UK and Italy, securing an £18 billion technology and energy investment pact with the UK and upgrading to a “Special Strategic Partnership” with Italy. At the subsequent G7 summit in France, Takaichi proposed a joint critical mineral stockpiling framework, leading to a €64 billion commitment to diversify supply chains and reduce reliance on any single supplier for rare earths to below 60% by 2030. To counter China’s intensifying export restrictions—which saw shipments of key metals like yttrium and dysprosium to Japan drop to zero by mid-2026—Japan is aggressively pursuing alternative sources. Data from the first half of 2026 shows Chinese rare earth exports to Japan fell by 51%, with shipments of yttrium hitting zero in June and dysprosium and terbium remaining at zero since March. These declines follow an export licensing system implemented by China’s Ministry of Commerce in April 2025 to regulate strategic resources used in high-tech sectors. While supply disruptions pose risks to Japanese automotive manufacturing, reports indicate that licenses are occasionally issued to prevent complete production halts. In response, Japan and the United States are planning accelerating a joint deep-sea mining project near Minamitorishima to extract heavy rare earth elements such as Minamitorishima. Recent tests at depths of nearly 6,000 meters successfully recovered sludge containing significant amounts of yttrium, gadolinium, dysprosium, and terbium. The gadolinium. Estimates suggest these seabed is estimated to contain over 16 million tons of resources. While resources could potentially meet global yttrium demand for approximately 780 years. To support this initiative, the project faces extreme technical challenges at depths of six kilometers, a large-scale Japanese government anticipates investing roughly $5.7 billion in public and private funds by 2040. Large-scale mining test is trials are scheduled for February 2027, with the a goal of developing a commercialization plan determining commercial viability by 2028. Japan is also deepening strategic ties with India and leveraging domestic discoveries, such as a gold deposit near Higashi-Aogashima, to secure high-tech manufacturing.

Versions

  1. 2026-08-22 21:16 UTC Japan pursues mineral security amid G7 and China tensions
  2. 2026-08-19 15:20 UTC Japan pursues mineral security amid G7 and China tensions
  3. 2026-08-14 05:03 UTC Japan pursues mineral security amid G7 and China tensions
  4. 2026-08-10 07:22 UTC Japan pursues mineral security amid G7 and China tensions
  5. 2026-07-26 23:58 UTC Japan ramps mineral, security as China curbs rare‑earths

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