美国和日本：远虑芯片，近忧稀土

Group 1 - Japan's deep-sea drilling ship "Chikyū" has embarked on a mission to explore seabed mud containing rare earth elements near Minami-Torishima, with an estimated reserve of 16 million tons, ranking third globally [1] - The U.S. is nearing a trade agreement with Taiwan, which includes TSMC's commitment to build at least five semiconductor factories in Arizona, with expectations of around twelve factories in total [1] - The geopolitical concerns of the U.S. and Japan regarding China are highlighted, particularly the risks associated with Taiwan's independence and the potential for unification [1][2] Group 2 - China's assertion of sovereignty over Taiwan raises risks for U.S. reliance on Taiwanese semiconductor production, with concerns about potential disruptions to global supply chains [2] - Japan's urgency in pursuing rare earth exploration is evident, especially following China's export ban on dual-use items, including rare earths, to Japan [4] - The dynamics of the Taiwan issue are central to the concerns of the U.S. and Japan, with both countries racing against time to secure their interests in semiconductor and rare earth supplies [5]