Japan poised to compete with Chicoms on rare earth minerals

Business Insider:
Japan just found a 'semi-infinite' deposit of rare-earth minerals — and it could be a 'game-changer' in competition with China


  • Scientists found a deposit of rare-earth minerals off the coast of Japan.
  • It could be a huge boon to the country's economy.
  • Because China has tightly controlled the world's supply of these minerals — which are used in everything from smartphones to electric car batteries — the discovery could be a "game-changer" for Japan, according to an analyst.

...
China still has deep wounds from WWII in its attitude toward Japan, so this is also a blow to the Chicom ego.  For the US it is a net plus that should inject some competition in the sale of these minerals.

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