National Initiatives onFebruary 27, 2026 Japan Advances Deep Sea Rare Earth Project as Vessel Returns Japan’s state backed deep sea rare earth program has cleared an important operational milestone. A recent expedition successfully retrieved…
National Initiatives onFebruary 27, 2026 Japan Tests Deep-Sea Rare Earth Mining to Reduce Dependence on China Japan has successfully recovered rare earth–rich sediment from a depth of about 6,000 metres in the Pacific Ocean, marking a major step in its…
National Initiatives onFebruary 27, 2026 Japan launches deep sea rare earth test near Minamitori Japan has dispatched its drilling equipped research vessel Chikyu on a month long expedition to test recovery of rare earth rich seabed mud…
National Initiatives onFebruary 27, 2026 Cook Islands Extends Seabed Exploration to 2032 The Cook Islands has extended the lifespan of its national seabed minerals exploration programme, delaying any verdict on commercial nodule…
National Initiatives onFebruary 27, 2026 China’s Deep-Sea Research Mission in the Cook Islands Raises Regional Alarm The deepening economic relationship between China and the Cook Islands is stirring unease across the South Pacific. Last week, the Chinese…
National Initiatives onFebruary 27, 2026 Japan and U.S. Advance Joint Study on Deep-Sea Rare Earth Mining Near Minamitori Island Japan and the United States are deepening cooperation on critical minerals through a new initiative to assess rare earth potential in the…