盯上6000米深海稀土！日本派船探查，距中国加强两用物项出口管制不到一周！高市早苗已决定提前大选

Group 1: Political Developments in Japan - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has decided to dissolve the House of Representatives and hold early elections on January 23, with an official announcement expected soon [1][29] - Kishida's cabinet approval ratings remain high, prompting calls within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) for an early dissolution of the House [1][29] - Critics within the LDP and opposition parties argue that Kishida is prioritizing party interests over national concerns, particularly regarding the timing of the budget [1][31] Group 2: Rare Earth Exploration and Extraction - Japan has initiated the world's first deep-sea rare earth trial extraction at a depth of 6000 meters near Minami-Torishima, with an estimated 16 million tons of rare earth resources in the surrounding waters [3][7] - The trial, conducted by the deep-sea drilling vessel "Chikyu," aims to assess the feasibility of extracting rare earth mud, with a target of daily extraction of 350 tons [5][9] - If successful, commercial mining could begin by February 2027, potentially allowing Japan to diversify its rare earth supply sources and reduce dependence on specific countries [9][21] Group 3: Challenges in Rare Earth Extraction - The feasibility of deep-sea rare earth extraction is questioned due to significant technical challenges, including high costs and environmental risks [11][14] - The extraction process is expected to be ten times more expensive than land-based rare earth mining, with commercial viability projected to take over a decade [11][14] - Japanese automaker Nissan is collaborating with Waseda University to develop technology for recycling rare earth elements from scrapped electric vehicle motors, aiming for practical application around 2030 [15][19] Group 4: Economic Implications of Rare Earth Dependency - Japan currently relies on China for over 70% of its rare earth imports, with heavy rare earths being nearly 100% dependent on Chinese sources [21][25] - Recent export controls imposed by China on dual-use items could lead to significant economic losses for Japan, estimated at 2.6 trillion yen if the restrictions persist for a year [20][25] - The potential for Japan to produce its own rare earths could enhance its strategic position and bargaining power in international markets [9][25]