India-Japan relation is strong, evolving “Special Strategic and Global Partnership” built on deep cultural ties, shared democratic values, and converging strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific, covering robust co-operation in defense, economy (trade, investment), technology, and infrastructure etc.
The Indo-Pacific is a vast and dynamic geopolitical region encompassing over 50 countries. Indo-Pacific region has over 60 per cent of the global population and holds a significant pie of the world economy with more than 60 per cent of the world GDP. The region is strategically significant due to its abundant natural resources, its central role in global supply chains, presence of vital choke points like the Strait of Malacca as an economic corridor and for many other reasons. Therefore, stability and security of this region is critical for ensuring global prosperity.
Yoshihisa Ishikawa, Consul General of Japan in Kolkata said in his elaborate speech:
Japan’s vision of FOIP & role in QUAD:
Japan has always been, and will be, committed to promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. In that aim, our former Prime Minister Shinzo ABE for the first time in 2016 announced his vision of ‘Free and Open Indo Pacific’ (FOIP) which was based on 3 pillars. In pursuit of a free, open, peaceful, prosperous, coercion-free and an inclusive, rules-based Indo-Pacific region, Japan strongly vouched for (1) establishing rule of law, freedom of navigation, free trade, (2) pursuing economic prosperity by (a) “physical connectivity” (b) “people-to people connectivity” and (c) “institutional connectivity”, (3) commitment for peace and stability through capacity-building assistance to countries in the Indo-Pacific region and cooperation in such fields as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, anti-piracy, counter-terrorism, and non-proliferation.
The former Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, during his visit to India in 2023, delivered a policy speech entitled “The Future of the Indo-Pacific — Japan’s New Plan for a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ — ‘Together with India, as an Indispensable Partner’ announcing Japan’s new plan for FOIP, which launches the four pillars of cooperation for FOIP: (1)”Principles for Peace and Rules for Prosperity,” (2)”Addressing Challenges in an Indo-Pacific Way,” (3)”Multi-layered Connectivity,” and (4)”Extending Efforts for Security and Safe Use of the “Sea” to the “Air”. Prime Minister Kishida also welcomed the Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative (IPOI) announced by Prime Minister Modi in 2019 and acknowledged the growing space for cooperation between the IPOI and FOIP.
Japan, along with other QUAD members (US, Australia and India), is committed to support the Indo-Pacific agenda that covers maritime security, economic resilience, technological cooperation, resilient supply chains, and Critical Minerals initiative. Recently QUAD is launching the “Ports of the Future” initiative in Mumbai. As a QUAD member, Japan commits to extend tangible support to its regional partners. So far, 6 QUAD Leader’s Summits have been concluded, the last one being held in US. The next QUAD Leader’s Summit is due and may be scheduled anytime in future.
Japan’s landmark cooperations in Indo-Pacific:
Japan is an active player in strengthening multilateral co-operations in the Indo-Pacific. Some of Japan’s landmark co-operation projects in this region include Japan-ASEAN Connectivity Initiatives, Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement, Japan-Philippines-US trilateral cooperation, Japan-India Digital Partnership, Rare Earth and Clean Energy Partnership with Indian firms, Smart Island and Green Port initiatives in India and so forth.
Prime Minister Modi’s last visit to Japan:
Prime Minster Modi made his eighth official visit to Japan in August last year for joining the 15th Japan-India Annual Summit Meeting with former Prime Minister of Japan ISHIBA Shigeru.
Japan India relations has made a great progress in last ten years and the two countries hold great potential for further enhancing such progress in coming decade and elevate our bilateral relations to a new height.
In the last summit meeting, Prime Minister ISHIBA stated that Japan and India, which share fundamental values and strategic interests, bear great responsibility for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and international society. He also expressed his desire to fulfill this responsibility together with Prime Minister Modi. The two leaders re-affirmed the importance of Free and Open Indo Pacific (FOIP). Prime Minister Modi also appreciated that Japan is an important partner, and that he wishes to deepen co-operation in a wide-ranging field, including QUAD grouping.
In October last year, Ms. Sanae TAKAICHI took her office as the new Prime Minister of Japan. Within a week after taking office, Ms. TAKAICHI called on Prime Minister Modi and said that our two countries are going to open a “golden chapter” in ties. In her very first conversation with Prime Minister Modi, she focused on QUAD, economic and defense cooperation and on mobility of professionals both side.
Japan’s prominent bilateral cooperation projects in India ,Mr.Yoshihisa Ishikawa added:
“I think when Japan acts on strengthening bilateral cooperation with India, in a way, it contributes to strengthening multilateral co-operations in the Indo-Pacific. Because, both Japan and India are the members of Indo-Pacific region.”
Japan and India will commemorate the 75 years of our bilateral relations next year in 2027. During these 8 decades, Japan has been extending economic cooperation to India to accelerate India’s infrastructure development in priority sectors. The ongoing Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail, recently flagged off East West Metro corridor in Kolkata, Delhi-Mumbai & Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial corridors are some of the very popular projects in India which Japan has funded for.
The Indo-Pacific today stands at the moment of profound transition. As the geopolitical balance evolves, we strongly believe that the stability must be anchored not in power alone, but in principles, such as in freedom of navigation, respect for international law, and peaceful resolution of disputes. Mind it, Japan’s vision for FOIP is not exclusive, rather it is inclusive, transparent and co-operative. We place ASEAN at its heart and welcome all nations that uphold the shared rules and responsibilities.
In this context, Japan-India partnership carries a special significance. The two maritime democracies with strong commitment to regional stability, our cooperation contribute not only to bilateral prosperity, but also to the peace and resilience of the wider Indo-Pacific.
The evolving balance in our region should be shaped by collaboration and not confrontation, by trust and not by coercion. It should be our shared responsibility to ensure regional stability as collective effort and not bloc politics. We should build a trusted supply chain for sustainable development, economic security and resilience of this region. Japan is natural partner for peace and prosperity and will remain committed to working together with all partners to ensure that the Indo-Pacific remains not merely a geographical region, but a region of opportunities, stability and hope for future generations.Mr.Ishikawa added.
(Edited by Pratyusha Mukherjee, Sr.Broadcast Journalist, British Media)
