Japan Moves to Restore Penicillin Production and Develop Deep-Sea Rare Earths
Japan is stepping up efforts to reduce its dependence on China for essential medicines and rare earth minerals, with pharmaceutical giant Meiji Seika Pharma working to restart domestic penicillin production after more than three decades and a government-backed research project achieving a breakthrough in extracting rare earth-rich mud from the seabed near Minamitorishima Island. (News On Japan)
TOKYO - Japan is taking measures to lessen reliance on China for critical medicines and rare earth minerals. Meiji Seika Pharma, a pharmaceutical subsidiary of Meiji Holdings, is working to restore domestic penicillin production after a hiatus of over three decades. Simultaneously, a government-backed research project has achieved a significant breakthrough in extracting rare earth-rich mud from the ocean floor near Minamitorishima Island.
These initiatives underscore Japan's concerns about economic security as geopolitical tensions, shipping disruptions, and China's dominance in essential supply chains create vulnerabilities across various industries, from healthcare to advanced electronics. The challenge involves not just securing cheaper supplies but also rebuilding domestic production capabilities that have diminished over decades of globalization and developing new technologies to control strategically important resources.
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