A Tiny Pacific Paradise Is Gaming the U.S.-China Rivalry Over Minerals

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RAROTONGA, Cook Islands—In October, a U.S. research vessel arrived in this remote South Pacific nation to capture high-definition images of the seafloor. A few weeks later, a Chinese ship arrived to do the same thing.

The visits marked the opening of an unexpected new front in the rivalry between the U.S. and China over the world’s mineral resources.

Both countries want to unlock new deposits of rare earths, which are essential to make cars, jet fighters and other products, as well as other strategic minerals needed for products such as batteries. China currently controls around 90% of the world’s refined supply of rare earths, giving it significant leverage over the U.S.

South Pacific nations have large offshore mineral deposits—and they have never been touched.

Source: Wikipedia