04-12-2018, 10:31 PM
*** 13-Apr-18 World View -- Japan finds 'semi-infinite supply' of rare earth minerals in its territorial waters
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
****
**** Japan finds 'semi-infinite supply' of rare earth minerals in its territorial waters
****
![[Image: g180412b.jpg]](http://Media.GenerationalDynamics.com/ww2010/g180412b.jpg)
Researchers have found rare earth minerals just 2-4 meters below the seabed, at a depth of almost four miles. (Telegraph)
In January 2013, a deep-sea research vessel from Japan obtained seven
samples of mud collected two to four meters below the seafloor at
5,600 to 5,800 meters in depth, near Japan's Minami-Tori-shima Island,
also known as Marcus Island, within Japan's exclusive economic zone
(EEZ).
Analyzing the mud revealed that it contained extreme concentrations of
rare earth minerals. Continued research since then has led to an
announcement that the region contains more than 16 million tons of
rare earth minerals. These elements are needed to build high-tech
products ranging from mobile phones to electric vehicles.
This find is being described as a "semi-infinity" supply of rare earth
minerals, enough to supply all of Japan's needs for well over a
century. However, getting at the resources will be an issue, since
they're almost four miles underwater. Japan Times and Fortune and
Nikkei Asian Review
****
**** Japan's rare earths discovery represents a defeat for China
****
China's theft of intellectual property from other nations is a subject
much in the news these days, and China's near-monopoly on rare earth
minerals has been a mechanism for exactly that kind of theft.
As I've said frequently in the past, people who "there won't be a war
because it's bad for business" are wrong. In fact the opposite is
true, since trade becomes just another weapon of war.
In 2009, there was a brief clash between China and Japan in the East
China Sea, and China decided to punish Japan and get revenge by ending
shipments to Japan of rare earth minerals. This was a significant
blow for Japanese manufacturing, since Japan needed these minerals for
manufacture of their high tech products, and Japan was dependent on
being supplied by China.
This became a major foreign policy for China.
As Yasuhiro Kato from Tokyo University has pointed out, "Their real
intention is to force foreign companies to locate plant in
China. They're saying `if you want our rare earth metals, you must
build your factory here, and we can then steal your technology."
In 2012, China stepped up the revenge against Japan. The Beijing
government encouraged the Chinese people to demonstrate and protest
against Japanese businesses in China. The government urged protesters
not to use violence, but that part of the message was clearly ignored,
as protesters torched a Panasonic factory and Toyota dealership,
looted and ransacked Japanese department stores and supermarkets in
several cities.
It became clear to the Japanese that they would need to find an
alternate supply of rare earth minerals, and that's what motivated the
deep-sea research project that made the initial discovery in 2013,
leading to the "semi-infinite" supply of rare earths announced this
week.
The new supply of rare earths has to be described as a defeat for
China, because once Japan is successfully in mining this new supply,
the China will be unable to use rare earths as a weapon of war.
The Diplomat (29-Aug-2017) and Telegraph (London, 24-Mar-2013)
Related Articles
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Japan, China, rare earth minerals,
Minami-Tori-shima Island, Marcus Island
Permanent web link to this article
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John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
- Japan finds 'semi-infinite supply' of rare earth minerals in its territorial waters
- Japan's rare earths discovery represents a defeat for China
****
**** Japan finds 'semi-infinite supply' of rare earth minerals in its territorial waters
****
Researchers have found rare earth minerals just 2-4 meters below the seabed, at a depth of almost four miles. (Telegraph)
In January 2013, a deep-sea research vessel from Japan obtained seven
samples of mud collected two to four meters below the seafloor at
5,600 to 5,800 meters in depth, near Japan's Minami-Tori-shima Island,
also known as Marcus Island, within Japan's exclusive economic zone
(EEZ).
Analyzing the mud revealed that it contained extreme concentrations of
rare earth minerals. Continued research since then has led to an
announcement that the region contains more than 16 million tons of
rare earth minerals. These elements are needed to build high-tech
products ranging from mobile phones to electric vehicles.
This find is being described as a "semi-infinity" supply of rare earth
minerals, enough to supply all of Japan's needs for well over a
century. However, getting at the resources will be an issue, since
they're almost four miles underwater. Japan Times and Fortune and
Nikkei Asian Review
****
**** Japan's rare earths discovery represents a defeat for China
****
China's theft of intellectual property from other nations is a subject
much in the news these days, and China's near-monopoly on rare earth
minerals has been a mechanism for exactly that kind of theft.
As I've said frequently in the past, people who "there won't be a war
because it's bad for business" are wrong. In fact the opposite is
true, since trade becomes just another weapon of war.
In 2009, there was a brief clash between China and Japan in the East
China Sea, and China decided to punish Japan and get revenge by ending
shipments to Japan of rare earth minerals. This was a significant
blow for Japanese manufacturing, since Japan needed these minerals for
manufacture of their high tech products, and Japan was dependent on
being supplied by China.
This became a major foreign policy for China.
As Yasuhiro Kato from Tokyo University has pointed out, "Their real
intention is to force foreign companies to locate plant in
China. They're saying `if you want our rare earth metals, you must
build your factory here, and we can then steal your technology."
In 2012, China stepped up the revenge against Japan. The Beijing
government encouraged the Chinese people to demonstrate and protest
against Japanese businesses in China. The government urged protesters
not to use violence, but that part of the message was clearly ignored,
as protesters torched a Panasonic factory and Toyota dealership,
looted and ransacked Japanese department stores and supermarkets in
several cities.
It became clear to the Japanese that they would need to find an
alternate supply of rare earth minerals, and that's what motivated the
deep-sea research project that made the initial discovery in 2013,
leading to the "semi-infinite" supply of rare earths announced this
week.
The new supply of rare earths has to be described as a defeat for
China, because once Japan is successfully in mining this new supply,
the China will be unable to use rare earths as a weapon of war.
The Diplomat (29-Aug-2017) and Telegraph (London, 24-Mar-2013)
Related Articles
- China halting 'rare earth mineral' exports (20-Oct-2010)
- Rare earth minerals controversy creates new alliances (28-Oct-2010)
- Rare earths controversy polarizes China's relations (27-Oct-2010)
- China and Japan continue to prepare for war over Senkaku/Diaoyu islands (29-Oct-2012)
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Japan, China, rare earth minerals,
Minami-Tori-shima Island, Marcus Island
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
