Japan, US team up to challenge China’s rare earth dominance
Japan and the United States are moving toward deeper cooperation on developing the vast rare earth deposits around Minamitorishima, a remote Japanese island in the Pacific, as both countries seek to reduce their dependence on China for critical miner
August 13, 2026 (MLN): Japan and the United States are moving toward deeper cooperation on developing the vast rare earth deposits around Minamitorishima, a remote Japanese island in the Pacific, as both countries seek to reduce their dependence on China for critical minerals. Located more than 1,000 miles southeast of Tokyo, Minamitorishima is a small, flat island surrounded by seabed deposits containing heavy rare...