Together Against China: Why Is Japan Getting Closer to India?

In an effort to counter China’s growing influence in the Indo–Pacific region, Japan’s prime minister, Fumio Kishida, announced on Monday that his country would invest hundreds of billions of dollars in the region’s economy, industry, disaster prevention, and other sectors.

Kishida made the announcement during a two-day state visit to India, where he met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss a range of issues, including the conflict in Ukraine and the security of the Indo–Pacific region.

Japan’s Indo–Pacific framework consists of four pillars: maintaining peace, working with countries in the region to address emerging global issues, enabling global connectivity through various platforms, and ensuring the security of seas and airspace, Mr. Kishida said.

He told the Indian Council on Global Affairs that Japan had pledged to invest $75 billion in the Indo–Pacific region through private investment and yen loans by 2030 and to increase aid through official government grants.

“We plan to expand cooperation within the framework of the free and open Indo–Pacific region,” he said.

Kishida’s policy reflects Japan’s desire to build close ties with South and Southeast Asia as China asserts its economic and military power in the region, Reuters reported.

Japan and India are also part of a strategic alliance with the United States and Australia, known as the Quad, which aims to promote a rules-based order in the Indo–Pacific region.

 

Strategic Approach

Kishida unveiled a plan to invest hundreds of billions of dollars in the Indo–Pacific region, a move seen as part of Tokyo’s strategy to counter China’s growing ambitions in the area.

He announced the plan during his two-day visit to India, where he met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss various issues, including the conflict in Ukraine and the security of the Indo–Pacific region.

The plan is in line with Japan’s new national security strategy, adopted last December, which calls for deploying long-range cruise missiles and using development aid more strategically to support like-minded countries.

He said Japan would invest $75 billion in the Indo–Pacific region through private investment and yen loans by 2030 and increase aid through official government grants. He said the plan aimed to increase the options available to each country to overcome their weaknesses and achieve further economic growth through connectivity.

“We plan to expand cooperation within the framework of the free and open Indo–Pacific region,” he said.

Japan and India are both part of a strategic alliance with the United States and Australia, known as the Quad, which seeks to promote a rules-based order in the Indo–Pacific region. They also share concerns about China’s rising influence and territorial disputes with Beijing.

The Economist reported that Japan and India see each other as key partners in meeting China’s security challenge.

Ishii Masafumi, a former Japanese diplomat, said: “We believed that India would be a future big power, and it’s safe to say that China is the biggest challenge for India, as it is for Japan.”

India and Japan have deepened their ties in defense and strategic affairs against hegemonic China, and most importantly, decades of Japanese investment and aid, mostly low-cost loans, have given Indians a bright outlook on Japan.

 

Alternative to China

The visit was originally planned as a trip by Modi to Tokyo, but it was changed at the last minute, according to The Diplomat, an American magazine that covers Asia–Pacific affairs.

Some analysts suggested that Kishida’s visit was an attempt to appease New Delhi, which was angered by the absence of Japan’s foreign minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi, from a meeting of foreign ministers of the Group of 20 hosted by India in early March.

Hayashi was represented by his deputy, Yamada Kenji, at the meeting, which sent a signal that Japan valued its alliance with the United States, Australia, and India—known as the Quad—more than the G20.

But there were other important issues that warranted the attention of both leaders, The Diplomat reported.

This year is crucial for India, which holds the presidency of the G20, and for Japan, which chairs the Group of 7. The meeting between Modi and Kishida served as a session to consult on the agenda of these two major events.

The meeting also came amid recent positive developments in Australia–India relations, including stimulating a comprehensive economic partnership, establishing working groups, and frequent visits by officials.

 Kishida may have wanted to discuss and understand what New Delhi envisioned as a course in its relationship with Japan, The Diplomat said.

The two PMs discussed ways to boost their economic and security cooperation as they faced challenges from China’s growing influence in the Indo–Pacific region.

As Australia and India deepen their economic and strategic ties, Japan’s foreign minister, Fumio Kishida, is set to meet Modi to explore ways to enhance cooperation with New Delhi on a range of issues, from digital trade to regional security.

The future of the Japan–India relationship has been boosted by recent initiatives such as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, the establishment of bilateral working groups, and frequent exchanges of high-level officials.

Two key areas of discussion will be the digital economy and the resilience of supply chains, which have become vital interests for both countries amid the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the rise of China.

In addition, the two leaders will assess the implementation of previous agreements on defense and railway cooperation, as well as share their views on the security challenges posed by Russia and China’s assertive policies in the global arena.

Japan, one of India’s largest investors, expects to expand its economic engagement with New Delhi in new sectors such as biotechnology.

Tokyo also plans to integrate India’s northeastern region with the rest of Southeast Asia as part of its vision for a free and open Indo–Pacific region.

Kishida will also outline Japan’s new agenda for the Indo–Pacific region, which includes addressing climate change, advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, and promoting the energy transition.