A Japanese mining ship has departed for a remote coral atoll to probe mud rich in rare earths on the seabed as part of Tokyo’s drive to curb its reliance on China for critical minerals as Beijing tightens supply. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/12/japan/japan-rare-earth-hunt/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #china #chinajapanrelations #rareearths #trade