Core Viewpoint - Australia’s Lynas Corporation has successfully separated heavy rare earth elements at its processing plant in Malaysia, marking Japan's first import of heavy rare earths from a country outside China, which dominates the global market with nearly 100% share [2][5]. Group 1: Company Operations - Lynas extracts rare earths from its Mount Weld mine in Western Australia, processes them in Malaysia into dysprosium and terbium, and then ships them to Japan [4]. - The Japanese trading company Sojitz has imported heavy rare earths produced by Lynas for the first time, which are essential for electric vehicle (EV) and wind turbine motor production [2][4]. Group 2: Market Dynamics - China accounts for 70% of global rare earth production and nearly 100% of heavy rare earths, making the establishment of a non-China dependent supply chain critical [5]. - In response to China's export controls on dysprosium and terbium, which were implemented as a retaliatory measure against U.S. tariffs, companies like Suzuki and Ford have had to pause production due to supply shortages [5]. Group 3: Future Demand and Agreements - The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that global demand for rare earths will expand to 3.4 times the 2020 levels by 2040, driven by decarbonization trends [5]. - A framework for stable rare earth procurement was agreed upon during the Japan-U.S. summit on October 28, highlighting the urgency of securing alternative supply sources [5].

Core Viewpoint - The meeting between US President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Kishi Sanae highlights the strategic cooperation between the US, Japan, and Australia in the rare earth sector, aiming to reduce dependence on China, but the initiative faces significant challenges and contradictions [1][8]. Group 1: Strategic Cooperation - The US and Japan signed a memorandum of understanding to accelerate the production of high-performance magnets, marking a new phase in US-Japan rare earth cooperation [1]. - Australia is included as a mineral resource supplier in this "rare earth alliance," aiming to reduce reliance on China [1][3]. Group 2: Challenges and Limitations - The US and Australia face significant shortcomings in the refining of heavy rare earths, which are crucial for advanced military and electric vehicle technologies [3]. - Japan's reliance on China for heavy rare earth production remains a critical issue, with 92% of high-purity heavy rare earth refining capacity concentrated in China [5][6]. Group 3: China's Dominance - China controls the entire rare earth supply chain, from mining to refining and magnet manufacturing, allowing it to dominate the global market with lower costs and higher purity [5]. - China's technological barriers, such as the "cascade extraction theory," significantly lower separation costs and achieve high purity levels, making it difficult for the US and Japan to catch up [5][8]. Group 4: Political Implications - The cooperation between the US, Japan, and Australia is seen as a political maneuver rather than a practical solution to the challenges posed by China's dominance in the rare earth market [8]. - The notion of "decoupling" from China in the rare earth sector is viewed as a risky gamble that may not yield the desired results in the short term [8].