Experts say Japan’s Minamitorishima mining push is driven less by ore than politics
Three national projects are set to converge on the uninhabited island
In February 2026, Japan became the first country to successfully and continuously retrieve rare-earth mud from 6,000 meters below the sea off Minamitorishima, its easternmost island, a feat that sparked nationwide excitement as a major step toward breaking free from dependence on China. But experts argue the rush is driven less by the minerals than by the political value of being seen to use the island, reinforcing Japan's claim of effective control over the waters around it.