House Committee Questions DOD on China’s Deep-Sea Mining Impact

A House committee has requested the Department of Defense (DOD) to clarify its strategies for addressing China’s activities in deep-sea mining, as outlined in a letter reviewed by the Daily Caller News Foundation.

The House Committee on Defense Oversight is seeking a staff-level briefing from the Pentagon by July 22, 2025. This follows a directive from President Donald Trump issued in April 2025, which aimed to enhance the understanding of vital minerals obtainable through deep-sea mining. This move is part of a broader governmental effort to combat China’s increasing dominance over undersea resources.

“Deep Sea Mining (DSM) can yield a variety of critical rare earth minerals that play a vital role in American national security,” stated Rep. James Kommer, a Republican from Kentucky and the committee chair. He expressed concerns over the Chinese Communist Party’s intentions to monopolize these resources, warning that failure to act might limit U.S. access.

Rare earth elements, a group of 17 unique elements, are essential for numerous applications, including advanced military and energy technologies. For instance, military assets like Tomahawk missiles and F-35 fighter jets rely heavily on these materials, with the F-35 using over 900 pounds and a Virginia-class submarine consuming around 9,200 pounds.

Interestingly, in 2019, China was responsible for 78% of U.S. rare earth imports, according to the U.S. International Trade Commission.

Beyond economic implications, the committee’s letter indicates that China’s deep-sea mining pursuits could introduce less obvious risks to U.S. national security. It mentions how technologies for deep-sea exploration might dual-use applications, affecting both commercial interests and national safety. The unregulated nature of DSM allows Chinese entities to pursue mining operations while simultaneously enhancing their maritime and military technologies.

According to Steve Yates, a senior researcher, these efforts reflect a broader Chinese strategy to control not just undersea resources but even territories like the Arctic Circle. He pointed out the urgency of addressing these vulnerabilities in U.S. defense technology supply chains.

In light of its global ambitions, China has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a small Pacific island nation to explore deep-sea mineral resources within its waters. The committee’s letter raises concerns over how this could lead to invasions of sovereign territories of smaller nations that may lack the means to defend themselves from China’s military and commercial ambitions.

For example, in February 2025, China signed an MOU with the Cook Islands aimed at exploring deep-sea minerals, and also previously discussed similar plans with Kiribati. The broader implications of these agreements could threaten the sovereignty of navigable waters and the autonomy of smaller Pacific island nations.