Japan has extended its designation of its continental shelf to the eastern part of islands located 1,000 kilometers south of Tokyo. This move allows the resource-poor country to begin research on extracting maritime natural resources, particularly rare metals. The revised Cabinet order, which came into effect recently, designates a significant portion of the Ogasawara Plateau sea area as part of Japan’s continental shelf, covering an area of approximately 120,000 square kilometers.
Yoshifumi Matsumura, the Minister for Ocean Policy, highlighted the significance of the expanded continental shelf, likening it to half the size of Japan’s Honshu main island. He emphasized that Japan would now be able to exercise its sovereign rights to explore the continental shelf and develop natural resources. The government revealed the presence of a cobalt-rich crust, including rare metals, in the region, with cobalt being essential for electric vehicle batteries.
However, this expansion has not been welcomed by China, with the Foreign Ministry spokesperson criticizing Japan’s move as contravening the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and universal practice. China’s concerns may stem from the importance of rare earth minerals for hi-tech products like batteries and semiconductors, where it currently holds a significant market share.
In response to economic security concerns, Japan has been intensifying efforts to secure supplies of these crucial resources. The country’s move to enlarge its continental shelf reflects its strategic approach to resource management and highlights the growing competition for access to rare earth minerals in the region.
