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Japan actually has plenty of rare earth deposits.

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Korea also has about 50 years' worth of rare earths sitting near Cheongju. To be honest, rare earth minerals aren't even that rare; they're found all over the world. So why is the whole world paralyzed when China throws a tantrum over them? It’s because the environmental damage from mining and refining is a nightmare. It produces massive amounts of toxic wastewater, poisonous gas, and radioactive materials like thorium and uranium, which contaminate the soil, groundwater, and air. This leads to landslides, water pollution, microdust, and serious health issues like developmental disabilities. In China’s case, the lack of strict environmental laws makes it worse—it’s the 'rare earth paradox' where the materials needed for green energy cause horrific pollution. Main pollution causes: 1. Massive mining/crushing: Huge amounts of dust (microdust). 2. Chemical leaching: Strong acids like sulfuric acid are used, creating alkaline wastewater. 3. Radiation: Radioactive elements like thorium and uranium leak out or spread as dust. 4. Waste: It's known that producing 1 ton of rare earths generates about 2,000 tons of toxic waste.