India, Japan hit the friendship road

When Prime Minister Narasimha Rao embarked on his ‘Look East’ policies, his aim was to accelerate economic growth by integrating India’s economy with the fastest growing economies in the world, in East and Southeast Asia. The primary focus was on closer economic integration with Asean countries. The relationship with Japan remained stagnant because of strong Japanese objections to India’s nuclear programme and tests in 1998.

Just over 15 years later, India’s relations with Japan are blossoming. This was evident at the reception accorded to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at this year’s Republic Day celebrations. Japan has for too long chosen to remain on the sidelines on issues pertaining to regional security, as some of its neighbours and even allies like the US never tire of reminding it of alleged atrocities in World War II.

But Japanese leaders such as former PM Junichiro Koizumi and Abe believe the present generation should play a role commensurate with the immense economic power and military potential of their country.

While Japan is linked to the US in a military alliance, recent American actions have left Japan with a feeling that the two countries are not entirely on the same page on dealing with Chinese aggressiveness with South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei.

China has not hesitated to use force in asserting its maritime border claims with Vietnam and, more recently, the Philippines. Tensions between Japan and China have escalated sharply over the disputed Senkaku Islands which have been under Japanese control since 1895.

Senkaku tensions The US-Japanese defence treaty covers the defence of these islands. Provocative maritime actions by the Chinese near these islands together with a unilateral declaration of an air defence identification zone (ADIZ) require all foreign aircraft flying across the East China Sea to identify themselves to Chinese authorities.

The ADIZ unilaterally extends Chinese sovereignty over the East China Sea. It challenges Japan’s sovereignty over Senkaku. Unlike India, which responds meekly to Chinese intrusions, Japan has reacted strongly to Chinese provocations.

The Abe government has begun strengthening its already formidable defence forces. On December 12, 2013, Japan announced a new five-year defence plan aimed at filling gaps in its defences in the event of a military conflict with China. On December 18, Japan hosted a regional summit attended by nine out of 10 Asean heads of government; a Japanese aid package of $20 billion was announced.

The summit declaration was critical of Chinese policies and asserted the “importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region, promoting maritime security, freedom of navigation, and unimpeded commerce by exercise of self-restraint and resolution of disputes by peaceful means”.

Bridge to balance Abe’s visit to India was intended to build a stable balance of power in Asia to counter the growing Chinese assertiveness. Defence cooperation and joint military exercises with Japan have grown in recent years, with Japan as India’s only partner where officials from the respective defence and foreign ministries jointly meet counterparts.

This dialogue is being raised to the level of national security advisers. Moreover, the annual India-US naval exercises are now to include ships from Japan’s navy.

Thus, India and Japan, together with the US, will hold naval exercises in both the Indian and Pacific oceans. India and Japan, which is even more dependent than China on imported oil and gas, share an interest in maintaining the security of sea lanes across the Pacific and Indian oceans.

Perhaps, the mandarins in Beijing will have noted the assertion by the prime ministers of Japan and India underscoring “the importance of overflight and civil aviation safety in accordance with the recognised principles of international law and the relevant standards and recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA)”. In, effect, Tokyo and New Delhi have told Beijing that its declaration of an ADIZ is illegal.

Ties on upswing Coming barely six weeks after a similar declaration by Japan and the Asean, China will have to swallow the fact that its claims are inadmissible and unacceptable. China has used force to enforce its territorial claims on the Philippines and Vietnam. It has incrementally sought to move its territorial claims to south of the Karakoram range in Chumar, while New Delhi has dithered and deluded itself into believing that setting up new mechanisms will end the Chinese appetite for expanding territorial claims.

The Abe visit came at a time when bilateral ties were on an upswing, after the comprehensive economic partnership came into force in 2011. Bilateral trade is expected to reach $24 billion this year, from $18.3 billion last year.

Japanese investment is steadily expanding, particularly in the automotive sector, with larger investment flows expected in fast trains and metro rail networks in New Delhi and Chennai.

Japan is now committed to promoting investments of Japanese companies in the development of national manufacturing zones in India. Joint projects are envisaged along the Delhi-Mumbai and Chennai-Bengaluru industrial corridors. It is crucial that Japanese investment is promoted in key areas like electronics and communications, where there is currently an overdependence on imports from China.

Two major Asian powers have agreed to craft a stable balance of power in Asia in the face of a Chinese push for hegemony. It comes at a time when there is growing scepticism about the policies of the Obama administration. India can, however, play a proactive role only if it restores policies conducive to rapid economic growth.

The writer is a former High Commissioner to Pakistan

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