US and China compete for critical minerals on the seabed
US and China begin competition for critical minerals and rare earths in the Pacific Ocean to secure resources for defense and technology.
TL;DR
- The US and China are intensifying their search for critical minerals and rare earths on the ocean floor.
- These minerals are vital for electric vehicle batteries, advanced technology, and defense systems.
- Key target materials include nickel, cobalt, copper, manganese, and rare earths found in polymetallic nodules and crusts.
- The US is using a 1980s law to speed up deep-sea mining, bypassing UN convention ratification.
- China holds a dominant position in rare earth processing and has the most exploration contracts with the International Seabed Authority (ISA).
- Technical challenges involve operating at extreme depths and transporting large volumes of extracted material.
- Legal uncertainties exist due to differing approaches between the US and China regarding international seabed mining regulations.
- Environmental impacts are a concern amid the lack of international consensus on mining rules.