China-US competition for rare earths sparks plan to mine Pacific seabed near Guam

The U.S. is planning to mine a seabed area roughly the size of Nevada near Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands to extract rare earth elements and other minerals, driven by competition with China over Pacific resources and reducing reliance on foreign mineral sources. The 69 million acre proposal spans two geographical zones and will undergo environmental analysis before potential lease offerings. The initiative reflects broader geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific region as both the U.S. and China compete for strategic control and access to critical minerals.