TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced Wednesday that Japan and the United States plan to strengthen cooperation to develop rare-earth resources near Minamitorishima, a remote Pacific island, as both nations aim to reduce their dependence on China for critical minerals. Speaking in parliament, Takaichi confirmed that the issue would be discussed during her upcoming summit with US President Donald Trump this week. &ldquo;The rare earths in waters around Minamitorishima are one of the targets of this effort,&rdquo; she said, adding that both sides would examine &ldquo;what such cooperation should look like.&rdquo; The announcement follows a successful Japanese test mission last month that retrieved sediment rich in rare earth elements from depths of approximately 6,000 meters. The operation was carried out by the deep-sea drilling boat called Chikyu, which departed in January to explore the mineral-rich seabed surrounding the island. Rare earth elements, a group of 17 metals essential for technologies ranging from electric vehicles to hard drives, have become a focal point of geopolitical competition. Japan, the United States, and their allies have been accelerating efforts to secure alternative supply chains amid concerns over China&rsquo;s dominance in the sector. Tensions between Tokyo and Beijing have intensified in recent months. China recently restricted exports of certain &ldquo;dual-use&rdquo; goods to Japan following remarks by Takaichi suggesting Tokyo could respond militarily in the event of a crisis involving Taiwan.&nbsp; The move has heightened fears in Japan that China could leverage its control over rare earth supplies to exert strategic pressure. <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;" id="isPasted">China has long used its dominance in rare earths to exert geopolitical leverage, including during its trade war with Trump. <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;" id="isPasted">The United States last month unveiled a critical-minerals partnership with the European Union and Japan, following a gathering in Washington amid growing concerns about China&#39;s dominant role in the sector.

Asia

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi says Tokyo and Washington will discuss joint development of deep-sea rare earths near Minamitorishima to reduce reliance on China.

Japan, US to discuss joint rare earths development: Takaichi

Web Desk

<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;" id="isPasted"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">SLAMABAD:&nbsp;Pakistan has positioned the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 (PMIF2026)&nbsp;as a national economic priority, launching a diplomatic push to attract international investors and mining companies to the country&#39;s mineral sector.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;" id="isPasted"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, while chairing a virtual briefing with Pakistan&rsquo;s envoys on&nbsp;Friday, <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap" id="isPasted">outlined the vision and strategic importance of the forum, calling it &quot;a national economic priority&quot;, said<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap" id="isPasted">&nbsp;a press release issued by the Ministry of Energy<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap" id="isPasted"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="isPasted">. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2009622450515157047&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=055a200cd5077577225ec7bd84b3bd5369a295bf&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 624px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;" id="isPasted"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The session focused on aligning diplomatic outreach with national economic priorities and positioning PMIF26 as a major international platform for investment in Pakistan&rsquo;s mineral and mining sector.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;" id="isPasted"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&ldquo;PMIF26 will serve as a key platform for promoting mining awareness, stimulating economic activity, and attracting sustainable investment into Pakistan&rsquo;s mineral sector,&rdquo; Malik said.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Malik,&nbsp;alongside senior officials from the Petroleum Division, launched efforts&nbsp;to advance preparations and mobilize broad-based global participation for the April forum.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He asked envoys to reach out to leading mining companies, institutional investors, financial institutions, and relevant government counterparts in their host countries.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The government is building on what it describes as a successful inaugural event last year. The 2025 forum drew more than 5,000 participants from over 50 countries and resulted in 14 memorandums of understanding with international mining firms, which Malik said reflected growing global confidence in Pakistan&rsquo;s mineral potential.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 2;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PMIF 2026 is scheduled to take place in Islamabad on April 8&ndash;9 and will feature strategic and technical conferences, an international exhibition, a gemstone exhibition, and a resource library designed to support data-driven investment decisions.

Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik held a briefing session with Pakistan’s Ambassadors and High Commissioners for the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 (PMIF26) (Photo/X: @Official_PetDiv)

Economy

The country has mobilized its diplomatic missions to attract global investors to the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026, scheduled to take place in Islamabad on April 8–9, positioning the event as a strategic platform to drive foreign investment in the mining sector.

Articles tagged with "Minerals"

Japan, US to discuss joint rare earths development: Takaichi

Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum an 'economic priority': Petroleum minister