日本公开采集稀土泥全过程，内阁府：若成功，有望于明年启动商业采矿

Core Viewpoint - Japan's Cabinet Office announced the successful extraction of rare earth mud from the waters near Minami-Torishima, with plans to potentially start commercial mining by February 2027 if experiments are successful. However, there are doubts regarding the feasibility of deep-sea rare earth mining due to technological and environmental challenges [1][10]. Group 1: Rare Earth Mining Developments - Japan has initiated the world's first deep-sea rare earth trial mining at a depth of 6,000 meters, executed by the research vessel "Chikyu" [8]. - The area around Minami-Torishima is estimated to contain over 16 million tons of rare earth elements, with the trial mining aiming for a daily extraction of 350 tons of rare earth mud [10]. - Currently, over 70% of Japan's rare earth supply is imported from China, with a near 100% dependency on China for heavy rare earths like dysprosium and terbium [10]. Group 2: Economic and Political Implications - The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced a ban on the export of dual-use items to Japanese military users, which may impact Japan's rare earth supply chain [12][15]. - Economic losses for Japan could reach 660 billion yen if rare earth exports are fully controlled for three months, escalating to approximately 2.6 trillion yen if the situation persists for a year [15]. - The Chinese government stated that the export control aims to prevent Japan's militarization and nuclear ambitions, while ensuring that civilian uses remain unaffected [15].