Japan will embark on a rare earth mining test in the Pacific at a depth of 6,000 meters around Minamitori Island this month, hoping to counter China's dominance in the supply of the elements crucial to modern technology.

China did not stipulate covered items, but experts believe the restrictions could affect rare earth minerals, a potential Achilles' heel for Japan.

The test is set to be the first of its kind in the world, reaching depths of about 6,000 meters, according to JAMSTEC.

Japan will conduct test mining of rare-earth-rich mud from the deep seabed off Minamitori Island, some 1,900 kilometres (1,180 miles) southeast of

Japanese engineering giant Shimizu believes—like many others—that they have a fix for climate change: just wrap the Moon's 6,800-mile equator in a solar panel