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

Group 1: Political Developments in Japan - Japanese Prime Minister Sanna Takashi has decided to dissolve the House of Representatives on January 23 and hold early elections, with an official announcement expected soon [1][27] - Takashi's cabinet approval ratings remain high, prompting calls within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) for an early dissolution of the House [1] - Critics within the LDP and opposition parties argue that Takashi is prioritizing party interests over national concerns, particularly regarding the impact on the 2026 budget [1][30] Group 2: Rare Earth Exploration and Extraction - Japan has initiated the world's first deep-sea rare earth trial mining at a depth of 6000 meters near Minami-Torishima, with the aim of extracting approximately 350 tons of rare earth mud daily [3][5] - The area surrounding Minami-Torishima is estimated to contain over 16 million tons of rare earth elements, which could significantly reduce Japan's reliance on imports [7][9] - The project aims to diversify Japan's rare earth supply sources and enhance its strategic position in the global market, with commercial mining expected to start by February 2027 if trials are successful [9][19] Group 3: Challenges in Rare Earth Mining - The feasibility of deep-sea rare earth mining is questioned due to high technical difficulties and costs, with deep-sea extraction being over ten times more expensive than land-based mining [11][14] - Environmental concerns are significant, as the extraction process may produce hazardous chemical and radioactive waste, necessitating careful management [14] - Nissan is collaborating with Waseda University to develop technology for recovering rare earth elements from scrapped electric vehicle motors, aiming for practical application around 2030 [15][17] 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 supply [19][23] - Potential export controls from China could lead to significant economic losses for Japan, estimated at 2.6 trillion yen if restrictions last for a year [23][25]