By: Vaibhav Pal

New Delhi on August 20, 2024 hosted the third 2+2 ministerial dialogue with Japan where Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Foreign minister Dr S Jaishankar hosted their Japanese counterparts, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Ms. Kamikawa Yoko and Minister of Defence of Japan, Mr. Kihara Minoru.  This is an important year as India and Japan celebrates 10^th anniversary of the establishment of special strategic global relationship. This relationship has gradually matured from what it was in the start of the century. This dialogue came at a time when PM Modi was set to visit Ukraine and India’s engagement with the West has increased multi-fold. However, Chinese assertiveness is considered as the driver of this relationship. The narrative of the relationship has now been the cooperation between countries with shared vision of Free and Open Indo-Pacific. The 2+2 ministerial dialogue offers unique opportunity for the cooperation between the security and long-term foreign policy objectives.

Evolution

In 2000, Mori Yoshiro became the first Japanese PM in a decade to visit India and that was the point when Indo-Japan relations took off from the shadows of Indian testing nuclear weapons in 1998. The subsequent visit of PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Japan in 2001 started the traditions of frequent high-level engagements between these two countries and as a result India inched closer to Japan. All the Japanese and Indian Prime ministers have given priority to this relationship, even Shinzo Abe went a step ahead to say that it would not be surprising if Indo-Japan relations surpass that of US-Japan relations. The security cooperation agreement of 2008 was largely seen as a move against China which Chinese media reported it in that way. In 2024, there is institutional consultation between these two governments are taking place at highest level.

Cultural connect has been something that binds India and Japan. Former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe remains one of the most respected and celebrated foreign leader in India. He was conferred with second highest civilian award, Padma Vibhusana to respect his legacy and contribution in Indo-Japan ties

Shared Objectives

Now, there is a clear convergence of the interests to protect the Sea Lines of Communications (SLOC). Since India’s geographic location is such that it is present at the two most important choke points, Strait of Malacca in the east and the Strait of Hormuz in the west. Chinese presence in the waters of the region is increasing and most of the transportation of oil, gas and energy from the gulf to the pacific passes through these  two straits and since Japan’s constitutions inhibits deployment of Maritime self defence forces (MSDF) into the international waters, it is essential to cooperate with Indian Navy in the region. India at the same time is also facing severe challenges from the Chinese navy whose submarines, research vessels and ports like Hambantota and Gwadar that are very close to India are under Chinese control possess a direct security challenge. It is in the Indian interest to cooperate with the likeminded countries.

Third 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue

Major highlight of this meeting is the willingness of the two countries to cooperate in the domains of cyber and space where both of these countries would work together to protect critical information infrastructure. Talks regarding semiconductors also took place. While taking the stock of the previous developments, military exercises were noted and the ministers expressed their satisfaction with the progress made in this domain. The Ministers expressed their commitment to continuing bilateral and multilateral exercises including “Dharma Guardian”, JIMEX and “Malabar”. Defence policy dialogues and joint staff level talks are to be accelerated to enhance the cooperation between these two countries. India is expecting assistance from the Japanese side to enhance its domestic defence capabilities where there will be cooperation and coproduction. They reaffirmed the importance of multilateral defence cooperation and exchanges in the Indo-Pacific region.

Both India and Japan seek to revise and update the 2008 Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation to meet contemporary challenges and to be able to respond to security challenges emerging in the recent times.

Both the countries shared their objection to any kind of unilateral attempt to change the status quo in the Indo-Pacific region. This was hinted to the Chinese belligerence in the South China sea where Chinese coast guards often go beyond their zone and enter into disputed waters. India and Japan will also strengthen the cooperation with the ASEAN.

Economic landscape of the relationship has also been discussed. Since 2000, Japan had been one of the biggest contributors of FDI into India and since then it has invested around US$ 39.94 billion ranking fifth in the world. India plans to engage Japan in the development of its north-eastern states. Technological research and Industrial cooperation is also one of the facets that is being discussed.

Talks also took place regarding the issue of countering terrorism. Both the countries have expressed strong opinions on the cross-border terrorism. It was hinted at the continuous incursion of terrorists from Pakistan administered areas into Indian territories.

Both India and Japan being the member of G 4 grouping reiterated their demands of the reforms at the multilateral institutions and especially United Nations. It has been long-standing demand from India and Japan to reform institutions that were built in 1940s, India and Japan often claim that UN does not reflect the realities of 2024 and deeply embedded in the past.

Japan remains an important partner in India’s growth story. It has valuable contribution in the Indian economy, critical infrastructural projects like Delhi metro and the ongoing Bullet train project and the projects in the north-eastern Indian states. Now it is the time to upgrade the relationship and to involve in the joint ventures and cooperation in the defence production. As Japan is developing its domestic industrial defence capabilities, it becomes important for India to codevelop Indian domestic defence complex with Japanese support. Despite being very robust relations at political level, economic relations largely remain under-utilised where bilateral trade between these two countries remains US$ 21.96 billion and it needs to be improved if India seeks to diversify and decouple its economic dependence from China.