Amid the flux in the Asia-Pacific geopolitical landscape, India has enunciated a robust vision of an Asian century that puts closer security and economic ties with Japan at the heart of the unfolding Asian renaissance.
A New Course for Asia
In a nuanced and impassioned address to Indian and Japanese parliamentarians and businessmen in Tokyo May 28, India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh underlined that India and Japan have “a shared vision of a rising Asia” and pitched for injecting more strategic content into the blossoming India-Japan relations.
“Asia’s resurgence began over a century ago on this island of the Rising Sun. Ever since, Japan has shown us the way forward. India and Japan have a shared vision of a rising Asia,” said Manmohan Singh. “We also have the greatest opportunity to chart a new course for Asia in this century,” he said. “We see Japan as a natural and indispensable partner in our quest for stability and peace in the vast region in Asia that is washed by the Pacific and Indian Oceans,” he underlined.
Beijing, which is locked in a diplomatic spat with Tokyo over the disputed Senkaku-Diaoyu islands and suspects a design behind closer India-Japan ties, must be listening intently to the Indian prime minister’s speech in Tokyo.
Over the last few years, India has consistently denied being part of any China containment strategy, but Beijing continues to be apprehensive about the US’ suspected grand design in roping in India and Japan to counter China’s rise. In fact, China’s assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in the maritime domain, has acted a powerful driver in goading India and Japan to transform their bilateral ties and deepen the security content of their recast relationship.
Indo-Pacific Calculus
Against this backdrop, during his first outing as Japan’s leader, Shinzo Abe spoke of “the confluence of the two seas” – the Pacific and the Indian Oceans – when he addressed the Indian Parliament in August 2007. Recalling that important speech, Manmohan Singh said this congruence of strategic interests in the region has “defined the new framework for our bilateral relationship.” “Prime Minister Abe and I will work together to strengthen our strategic partnership, impart new momentum to our economic cooperation and deepen our dialogue on shared regional and global interests.”
In a veiled allusion to China’s oft-remarked assertiveness, the Indian prime minister said: “At the same time, this region faces multiple challenges, unresolved issues and unsettled questions.” “Historical differences persist despite our growing inter-dependence; prosperity has not fully eliminated disparities within and between states; and there are continuing threats to stability and security.”
Reflecting the new vigour and optimism in India-Japan relations, Manmohan Singh said: “It is in this moment of flux and change that we also have the greatest opportunity to chart a new course for Asia in this century. With the weight of the global economy and its drivers of growth shifting to this region, its future will also shape the contours of the world in this century.”
Three-Track Approach
Raising the bar, Manmohan Singh suggested a three-track approach to rejuvenate India-Japan relations. “First, we should strengthen regional mechanisms and forums that will help develop habits of consultation and cooperation, enable us to evolve commonly accepted principles for managing differences, reinforce congruence in the region and allow us to address common challenges.” “Second, we should promote wider and deeper regional economic integration and enhance regional connectivity. This will promote more balanced and broad-based economic development across the region and also contribute to a more balanced regional architecture.”
“Third, maritime security across the linked regions of the Indian and Pacific Oceans is essential for regional and global prosperity. We should, therefore, uphold the principles of freedom of navigation and unimpeded lawful commerce in accordance with international law, resolve maritime issues peacefully and work together more purposefully to harness the potential of the seas and address common sea-based challenges such as piracy.”
The Way Ahead
Looking ahead, Manmohan Singh made it clear that the focus will be on deepening strategic dimension of the India-Japan relationship. “Going forward, therefore, we should intensify our political dialogue and expand our strategic consultations on regions and issues of mutual interest. Our defence and security dialogue, military exercises and defence technology collaboration should grow. We should consult and coordinate more closely in global and regional forums.”
The security cooperation between the two Asian democracies is set for an upsurge, but the economic imperative will play an equally critical role in sustaining the momentum in bilateral ties. Japan, a key player in signature infrastructure projects in India, has emerged as a major foreign investor in Asia’s third largest economy, and the iconic Japanese companies are now seeing India as a new land of opportunity. Juggling the economic and security factors, Manmohan Singh described India and Japan as “major actors” in this region and stressed that it was their duty to ensure peace, security and prosperity in Asia. Lauding Japan’s resurgence as “the locomotive of Asian renaissance,” he said: “Japan inspired Asia’s surge to prosperity and it remains integral to Asia’s future. The world has a huge stake in Japan’s success in restoring the momentum of its growth.”
China’s Worry
Predictably, the new spring in India-Japan ties and all this inspired talk about Japan’s resurgence is deeply resented by a suspicious Beijing which is scripting its own ascent to major power status in the region.
In a sharply-worded editorial, People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the Communist Party of China, counselled New Delhi to deal with its disputes with Beijing, calmly undisturbed by “internal and international provocateurs.” Sadly for Beijing, this kind of puerile rhetoric will only drive India and Japan closer in a strategic embrace.
Author Profile
- Manish Chand is Founder-CEO and Editor-in-Chief of India Writes Network (www.indiawrites.org) and India and World, a pioneering magazine focused on international affairs. He is CEO/Director of TGII Media Private Limited, an India-based media, publishing, research and consultancy company.
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