Round The World
New Delhi, 21 September 2017
Modi-Abe Bonhomie
‘JAPINDIA’ VS ‘CHINDIA’
By Dr D. K. Giri
(Prof, International Politics, JMI)
The India-Japan bilateral summit between
Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shizo Abe was viewed in the media as
an occasion for introduction of the Bullet train in India. Well, that is really
a simplistic understanding of the evolving strategic partnership between the
two countries. Let us recall that a decade ago, the western countries including
those of EU, and the US were talking of “Chindia’s” competitive threat to their
economies, as the economies of China and India were growing fast. Similar
acronyms are evolving here in Asia, with the Japindia (Japan plus India)
emerging rapidly in response to Chinpak (China + Pakistan) on the economic
corridor, and OBOR, one belt and one road, etc.
The significance of the relationship
sprinting into a ‘special, strategic and global’ partnership between New Delhi
and Tokyo should not be lost on observers and experts of India’s foreign policy
as well as international politics. In fact, the 12th annual summit, the
4th between Modi and Abe was on this very theme of ‘global and
strategic’ partnership.
What were the highlights and the outcomes of
the Summit? What is well known is the project on high-speed (bullet) train from
Ahmedabad to Mumbai. Undoubtedly, this will lead to a quantum jump for India in
skills and indigenous capacities at the highest level of manufacturing in
engineering and locomotives. There are catty criticisms of the project which
allude to the poor conditions of existing railway network compared to the
high-tech quality bullet trains. Such voices are heard whenever a new
technology is initiated or quality brought into the system. Quality in one area
will inspire and engender quality upgradation everywhere else.
However, on the partnership, in addition to
the bullet train, the summit reiterated the resolve of New Delhi and Tokyo in
working on the multi-polarity and stable balances in the Asian region. It is no
secret that the US under Trump is embarking on isolationism, looking inward,
thereby vacating the space in Asia and elsewhere vis-à-vis security. American policies
imply that other countries should contribute to the world security or defend
their own. This shift in US foreign policy has prompted China to feed its
territorial appetite and fuel its expansionist tendencies.
It has found an obliging partner in Pakistan.
China is wary of India’s rise as a rival power centre in Asia, and Pakistan has
its unsatiated anti-India stance, mainly over Kashmir. Japan’s concern over
China and India’s with Pakistan bring New Delhi and Tokyo together as they
realise their combined strategic weight, economic might and military power can
contain China.
The joint statement issued after the Summit
stated, “the two leaders affirmed their commitment to their value-based
partnership in achieving a free, open and prosperous Asia-Pacific region where
sovereignty and international laws are respected and differences are resolved
through dialogue and where all countries, large and small, enjoy freedoms of
the global commons, development and trade.” This may sound as usual diplomatic
statement, but reading between the lines, it becomes obvious that “peaceful
dialogue” is a counter to China’s belligerent and bullish approach to border
issues, and Pakistan’s unmaintainable claim on Kashmir by using cross-border
terrorism.
There were also serious exchange and
uniformity of views on North-Korea’s nuclearisation which is a major worry for
Japan; cross border terrorism, a continuing concern for India, ASEAN’s
centrality to the region, where both India and Japan have a stake vis-à-vis
China, North China Sea where China is making unlawful territorial claims while
surreptitiously usurping under water space.
Both leaders resolved to align India’s Act
East policy and Japan’s Indo-Pacific engagement. There was an outline drawn for
building an Asia-Africa growth corridor, which again will counter China’s
ambitious OBOR project. Japan pledged to support India’s national development
programmes. Japan, unquestionably, is the pre-eminent economic partner of
India.
In the Summit, the atmosphere was friendly
and highly congenial. The warmth of interaction, mutual trust and confidence
observed around Abe’s visit were remarkable. The intimacy between the two
countries has been evolving since a decade, dating back to the 2007 address of
Prime Minister Abe to the Indian Parliament titled “Confluence of Two States”.
Aligning their Asia strategies is leading to
a close alliance between the two nations. In the UN General Assembly taking
place this week, India, Japan and the US are likely to take a common position
on North Korea. In fact, there was a trilateral meeting between the Foreign
Ministers of the three countries on the fringe of UNGA. Both Washington and
Tokyo are seeking help from India in making UN sanctions against North Korea
effective. New Delhi has promised to explore the proliferation linkages in
building up North Korea’s nuclear and missile programme. The hand of suspicion
points to China and Pakistan.
Both the US and Japan are extremely wary of
the tinpot of North Korea which is bent upon testing nuclear bombs and hurling
them across Japan. The situation is dangerously critical as Donald Trump has
threatened to wipe out North Korea unless the latter restrained from throwing
bombs at Japan and threatening the US with its bombs. India is expected to give
them a hand in averting this impending catastrophe.
By most calculations the strategic
partnership between India and Japan will grow deeper irrespective of the nature
of leadership in either country. Undeniably, the political leadership is an
important variable in bilateral relations. New Delhi and Tokyo would try to
consolidate the partnership in mutual interest as well as their respective
national interests. India will like to cultivate Japan for investment in
sustainable infrastructure. Second, New Delhi will pursue Tokyo to access civil
nuclear technology from it to meet the energy appetite for India’s growing
economy. Third, India would like to secure high-end defense technology from
Japan. Fourth, Japan is the most formidable ally in containing China. Fifth,
India needs Japan, like it needs Israel to get the US on its side.
On the part of Japan, India is the important
partner for variety of reasons. One, China, Japan’s archrival is a major actor
in international politics. Tokyo will need New Delhi’s support to contain
China. Second, Japan needs to step in and defend its interest in the region in
view of the decreasing engagement of US in the region. Third, Japan would
engage in India following the growing US interest in India. Fourth, Japan needs
India’s help in securing trade and energy networks in critical maritime space.
Fifth and the obvious, Japan would like to tap India’s market potential.
The only hurdle that can hamper the growth of
partnership is the “famed” Indian bureaucracy. India’s defence officialdom is
cumbersome. It fails to prioritise strategic decision making over processes and
procedures. A prize deal on defence equipments namely the US-2 amphibian
aircraft from Japan is still under negotiation. Now, we have a new Defence
Minister, a political green horn but seen to be administratively competent. It
will be interesting to watch Japindia evolve into a solid axis in Asian
politics, and bilaterally in trade, economy and defence. The onus is more on
New Delhi in view of its complacent and less flexible foreign policy
bureaucracy. ---INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
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