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Group 1 - The core focus of the article is the strategic competition between the US and Japan to secure critical mineral resources, driven by concerns over China's dominance in this sector [1][3][15] - The US has initiated a "Treasury Plan" with a budget of $12 billion to stockpile essential minerals, aiming to reduce reliance on foreign sources, particularly China [1][3] - Japan is actively exploring seabed resources, specifically rare earth elements, with the "Chikyū" deep-sea vessel successfully extracting mineral-rich sediment from the Minami-Tori-shima area [5][7] Group 2 - In 2025, the US Department of Defense and the Department of Energy plan to invest several billion dollars in domestic rare earth producers to enhance mineral security [3][5] - A cooperation agreement was signed between Japan and the US, with Japan committing to invest $550 billion in various sectors, including nuclear energy, AI, and critical minerals [5][11] - The competition for critical minerals is not limited to the US and Japan; African nations like the Democratic Republic of the Congo are implementing export quota policies, affecting global cobalt prices and supply chains [9][11] Group 3 - Despite the significant investments, experts warn that the high costs and technical challenges of deep-sea mining could delay commercial viability for at least a decade [9][15] - China currently controls approximately 70% of global rare earth production and 90% of processing, creating substantial barriers for other nations attempting to compete [13][15] - The article highlights the increasing assertiveness of resource-rich countries in Africa, which are becoming less willing to allow resources to flow to any single nation [15]