稀土告急！日本急赴深海捞淤泥，这场自救简直是笑话

Core Viewpoint - Japan is facing a critical shortage of rare earth materials, leading to urgent measures to explore and potentially extract these resources from the seabed, while previous strategies have failed to materialize [5][9]. Group 1: Current Situation - Japan's deep-sea drilling ship has embarked on a mission to collect rare earth samples from the seabed near Minami-Torishima, approximately 2000 kilometers from Tokyo, with a plan for a 20-day collection period [6]. - The country has previously claimed to have submerged raw materials like rare earths to retrieve them in case of deteriorating relations with China, but these materials have not been recovered [8]. - Japan's heavy rare earth reserves are critically low, with only enough to last two months, while regular rare earth stocks can sustain operations for less than six months [9]. Group 2: Challenges in Exploration and Extraction - Japan has not conducted any foundational exploration for rare earths in recent years, leading to a lack of confirmed sources for these materials [9]. - Experts suggest that if exploration is successful, commercial extraction might not begin until February 2027, indicating a potential stagnation in Japan's rare earth supply chain for at least the next year [11]. - The deep-sea extraction process is expected to be costly and challenging, making it difficult for Japan to compete with China's rare earth industry [11]. Group 3: Import Difficulties - Japan has attempted to secure rare earth imports from Kazakhstan, but logistical issues have hindered the transportation of these materials [12]. - Various proposed routes for importing rare earths face significant obstacles, including saturated transport capacities and geopolitical tensions with China and Russia [14]. - The only feasible route involves a lengthy and costly journey through Central Asia and the Mediterranean, which is not sustainable for Japan's needs [14].