US, Japan Scramble for 'Rare Earths,' Discover 'Indigenous Rights' Are Equally Rare
Bloomberg celebrates the US and Japan joining forces to mine rare earths near a 'small Pacific island' to curb 'reliance on China.' (Perhaps the island has a name?) This echoes previous resource grabs, from the historical pillaging of the Congo for minerals like cobalt—crucial for early electronics and now EVs—to modern deep-sea mining proposals that threaten untouched ecosystems. The 'small
Pacific island' is likely part of the Federated States of Micronesia, a former US trust territory still struggling with the environmental legacy of US nuclear testing and now facing economic pressure alongside escalating climate change. Funny how 'reliance on China' justifies ignoring indigenous sovereignty and environmental devastation, a familiar playbook. One might wonder if the concern for
'reliance' extends beyond Beijing, or if it simply means 'reliance on anyone but us.' The article fails to mention whether the indigenous people of said 'small Pacific island' were consulted, compensated, or even considered in this geopolitical maneuvering, focusing instead purely on great power competition. The US, with its long history of exploiting Pacific islands for military bases and
resource extraction, appears to be continuing a tradition of treating these nations as expendable pawns on a geopolitical chessboard. It’s almost as if the primary concern isn't ethical sourcing, but rather who gets to control the ethically dubious supply chain.