China’s practice of claiming prior discoveries as its own mirrors the same tactic it uses in persistently asserting sovereignty over Japan’s Senkaku Islands.
As Sino-French cooperation advances in seabed resource development, Japan must clearly demonstrate its determination to develop rare-earth resources around Minamitorishima to avoid falling behind.

2016-04-03
The following is a continuation of the previous chapter.
All emphases in the text, except for the title, are mine.
Professor Yasuhiro Kato of the University of Tokyo expressed another concern at a lecture in Saitama City.
“China is attempting to develop resources in cooperation with French companies. We want to develop them first.”
Since November 2014, Kato has organized a team called the “University of Tokyo Consortium,” involving oil and natural gas development companies, with the aim of developing rare-earth mud.
Although China lacks the technology to raise rare-earth mud, the possibility of partnering with a top-tier French marine development company cannot be dismissed.
Kato’s concern centers on a scenario of Sino-French cooperation.
France’s participation in the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank illustrates the favorable economic relationship between China and France.
Part of the area off Tahiti where rare-earth mud was discovered lies within France’s exclusive economic zone, and no country is indifferent to its own resources.
In February, Kato was invited to the French ambassador’s residence, where he exchanged views on rare earths with visiting members of parliament.
He thus deepened his view that cooperation between China and France is entirely possible.
Another researcher familiar with international maritime trends also noted that French and Chinese companies are preparing to jointly embark on seabed resource development.
According to this researcher, in a seabed hydrothermal deposit project planned in Papua New Guinea, the ships will be Chinese-built, the machinery French-made, and the ore purchased by Chinese companies.
Seabed hydrothermal deposits are marine resources containing gold and silver, discovered in Japan’s Okinawa waters and the Izu–Ogasawara region.
In the Okinawa waters, Chinese survey vessels reportedly appear frequently.
However, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry remains cautious about public disclosure so as not to provoke neighboring countries.
The researcher then revealed an episode symbolizing China’s voracious appetite for resources.
“China reported in the news that ‘our survey vessel discovered this in the Okinawa Trough,’ even though we had already made the discovery.”
Although publication in an academic journal prevented it from becoming an established fact,
in June 2015 China’s state news agency Xinhua released an article titled, “China Makes First Discovery of Rare-Earth Deposits with Rich Reserves in the Indian Ocean.”
In reality, this discovery had already been published by Kato in an international academic journal two years earlier.
Turning discoveries into established facts is the same tactic China uses in persistently claiming sovereignty over the Senkaku Islands, which are Japanese territory.
“Japan must demonstrate its intention to develop rare-earth mud around Minamitorishima. China’s goal in ocean development is to overtake Japan.”
Such warnings have also been voiced by researchers.
The University of Tokyo Consortium aims to conduct a demonstration test to extract mud from off Minamitorishima in two years’ time.
While the estimated cost of 3.08 billion yen is a challenge, what matters most for Japan now is not to fall behind China.