India and Japan: Driving Force for a Post-Pandemic Multipolar Asia

India and Japan have a longstanding history of strong bilateral ties and have recently reaffirmed and reiterated time and again their commitment to their Special Strategic and Global Partnership.
The post-COVID-19 pandemic era is producing a new world order and has already accelerated China’s growing supremacy in the region.
East Asia has witnessed an increase in economic retaliation policies, largely driven by geopolitical reasons.
More bilateral exchanges, safeguards, sustainable power sources, network safety, framework, and new companies will help India and Japan in the Indian Sea and Indo-Pacific region.

“Not be a surprise if, in another decade, Japan-India relations overtake Japan-US and Japan-China ties.”
_{Shinzo Abe (Towards a Beautiful Country: My Vision for Japan)}

India and Japan’s connection can be dated back to the 6th century A.D. when Buddhism was first introduced to Japan. However, it was during the Meiji era that direct exchange began, with Japan purchasing cotton from India, and later importing iron ore after World War II. Despite a distant relationship during the Cold War period due to Japan’s status as an American ally and India’s siding with non-alignment (NAM), their friendship evolved in 2006 when Abe Shinzo and Manmohan Singh met in Tokyo and launched the “India-Japan Strategic and Global Partnership.” Abe and Modi elevated their connection further to a “special and strategic alliance” in 2014, broadening it to include diplomatic, military, and economic areas. As a consequence, both Nations have been engaged in joint military drills, naval exercises, and also counterterrorism operations. Additionally, they entered into agreements such as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and a civil nuclear pact.

It was as a result of these agreements which strengthened their relationship in diplomacy, military and economic ties making Japan one of India’s strongest trading partners, as well as the vision of the Indo-Pacific as a single strategic space which led to India’s involvement in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue with Japan, the United States, and Australia to contain China without explicitly stating that goal.

Economic Relations

India and Japan have laid out several components to enhance their economic cooperation, including the Comprehensive Economic Organization Understanding (CEPA), established in August 2011 which intends to eliminate tariffs on over 94% of products traded between the two nations. The bilateral exchange between India and Japan rose to $20.57 billion in the monetary year 2021-2022, with an emphasis on commodities of petroleum products, organic chemicals, machinery, and textiles from India and imports of machinery, iron and steel products, and plastic materials from Japan.¹

The India-Japan Act East Forum as well as the India-Japan Digital Partnership have been laid out to advance a joint effort between the two nations in accordance with India’s “Act East Policy” and Japan’s “Vision of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.” These components centre around projects for the economic modernization of India’s North-East locale and extending collaboration in the IT sectors, respectively.

Additionally, Japanese organizations have likewise shown interest in investing resources into India’s infrastructural overheads, especially in areas like railroads, ports, and expressways. Japan has been giving monetary assistance and specialized expertise to help framework advancement projects in India through the Japan Worldwide Participation Office (JICA).

Further, India and Japan are collaborating on various transportation projects aiming toward modernizing India’s foundation, including the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Rapid Rail Corridor, which is being carried out with the specialized and monetary assistance of the Japanese Government which has nominated Japan High-Speed Rail Electric Engineering Co. Ltd to keep the projects in check. Additionally, the Indian government is carrying out six Metro Rail Projects with Japan’s assistance, including the creation of eco-friendly Metro systems and the redesign of urban landscapes.²

In 2014, PM Abe pledged $35 billion in investment in India over five years, and by March 2022, this target was met. Both sides aimed for ¥5 trillion ($42 billion/ ₹3,20,000 crores) investment from Japan to India in five years for mutual projects, renewed a currency swap agreement and launched the Japan-India Clean Energy Partnership. In March 2023, both leaders welcomed progress towards the investment goal, confirmed cooperation on the high-speed rail project and India’s northeastern region, and pledged to establish a Joint Crediting Mechanism under the Clean Energy Partnership.

Cultural relations

Indo-Japan cultural relation dates back to the 6^th century AD through the spread of Buddhism from India to Korea and China advancing to Japan, Although the two states’ cultural relation is provident to be decades ago, the official cultural agreement is pronounced to be signed in 1956, whereby it established a scholarship system for young Japanese scholars to study in India. This relationship grew simultaneously with the Japanese Prime Minister’s visit to India and the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Japan. The relationship between the two states is believed to advance in the 1980s through the exchange of activities between the local government of Japan and the Indian counterparts yielding many exchanges and the visits of the Prime Ministers of the two sides only increased the relationship.³

Japanese cultural influence on India

The influence of Japan in India is said to be minimum as India was not influenced by the East Asian culture deriving of geographical locations creating a physical distance between the two sides, although these factors create strenuous on both sides nevertheless India is believed to have been influenced by the Japanese Cuisine and other activities through China that is evidently practised today in the North Eastern part of India.

Indian cultural influence on Japan

The Influence of India on Japan is more of a religious prospect, Although Hinduism is said to be practised in Minuscule in Japan, still many Hindu deities are worshipped in Japan with different names like Benzaiten (Saraswati), Daikoku (Shiva), Bishamon (Kubera), etc. The different aspects of the art and dance forms of Japan are also believed to have been significantly influenced by Indian culture. These similarities between the two sides create a close feeling and a sense of oneness in their thought on certain aspects, evidently promulgating different ties between the two sides in their Interest.

India’s G20 and G7 presidentship opportunities and Collaboration

“Collaboration between India’s G20 Presidency and Japan’s G7 presidency, a unique opportunity for both countries to shape the future of the world towards “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”
_{– Bhupendra Yadav (Minister of Labour and Employment)}

As India took the baton of the presidency of the G20 on December 1, 2022, and Japan’s presidency of the G7 summit in May later this year with Prime Minister Kishida’s invitation to Prime Minister Modi marked heavy importance in the fragmented world order and strategic importance in the region, It marks a great historical significance in the region with various problems integrating with its surrounding among which the important element is the rise of China globally leaving a ray of disabled Balance of power in the region and aggressive nature of China in the Indo-pacific region.

It is to be noted that India and Japan are democratic countries that propose an adherence to the international order based on the rule of law and enhancing relations with partners in the International community this set of principles could be a benefaction for both countries in achieving their various interest in the international institutions with the opportunity at hand to voice out their commitments at the forums presented.

India and Japan also witnessed a unique opportunity to enhance their relationship, In areas like the policy of, ‘Japan-India special strategic Global partnership.’ Influencing various commitments to embark on its representation and the importance it holds in the international forum by promoting a wide range of issues including the development of finance, food security, climate, and energy, and confirming their various committees to discuss and work together.

“This year India is hosting the G20 presidency and while Japan is hosting the G7 presidency, and hoped that both countries could come together and work to bring about ‘peace and prosperity to the International community.”
_{– PM Fumio Kishida}

Indo-Japan relation against the rise of China in the region

The relationship of Beijing with both Tokyo and New Delhi has never been a progressive relationship to behold. The varied interest and differences between these countries especially in the geographical disputes between Beijing to both India and Japan always create an offset relationship between the states. Today, these disputes have taken another elevation in the region with extravagant China’s growth and the demining influence of Washington in the region creating a heavy threat to its neighbouring countries. In the absence of Washington’s influence in the region, the only practically abled alternative consists of India and Japan, the two democratic powers with shared values, and economic heft to counterbalance the Beijing aggression in the region and to establish a liberal institution with an equitable burden sharing.

Today, Stephen Walt defines Balancing “As allying with others against the prevailing threat.” India and Japan not only increased their economic cooperation but also heavily engaged in each other warfare projects. While the cooperation, on one hand, a self-interest expansion of its own military program could be witnessed with different policies implemented on the domestic front, Japan has converged the policy of military stability in striving for curbing the overreliance on military measures to Washington and sensing the change of geopolitical realities as well as to curb China’s aggressive character in the region, by operating a policy of where 2% of its total GDP to be used in strengthening its military measures, At the same time India in the recent years could be seen revamping its military budget to 2% of its total GDP which is still less than China’s military budget but a determining project such as the Domestic initiative of Atmanirbhar Bharat in the defence sector in developing various warfare ships and Helicopters as well as fighter Jet could be seen._⁴

The Indo-Japan has a vast array of focus in curbing China’s growth of aggressive character in the region, not only on the hard powers aspects but on the soft side it is heavily engaged in pursuing the various multilateral institutions such as the UNSC permanent membership and the G4 affinity as well as the QUAD maritime cooperations.

Areas of awareness of the Japanese strategic footprint in the South Asian region

Witnessing the adverse growth of China both economically and defensive proportions and its increasingly aggressive character in the Indo-Pacific region not only create a terminating Balance of power in the region but also increased the threat to National security in the region, Japan Noticing the changing geopolitical realities of the world, especially in the Southeast Asian region has engaged herself to different aspects such as the economic and Bilateral engagement with different states in the south Asian region which constitutes half of the Indo-pacific region. working out to promote its influence in the states like India which is a very visible factor and also other states like Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka within the aspects of Road, Train, Airport and other infrastructural projects as well as the economic prospects. The unbalance security factor in Pakistan leaves Japan to be reluctant to provide its initiative, although Pakistan has been at the forefront of intimidating Japan. Japan presents herself as an Important power and an alternative to China in the region, Notably, Japan’s investment has always been promoting long-term aspects of investment, so it is not presumptuous to state that it is eager to set a footprint in South Asia premises on the option to either counter China’s growth as well as a momentum set up to challenge India’s goal of an emerging leader in the global south.

Indo-Japan defence relations and G4 affinity/ Quad Co-operation

During the Cold War, Japan and India had a distant relationship, yet throughout the course of recent many years, they have developed closer. In 1998, Japan condemned India for testing nuclear weapons and imposed sanctions. However, in 2006, they established a strategic partnership that has been upgraded since 2014. The partnership of the two nations essentially incorporates military, diplomatic and economic cooperation, as well as joint military exercises, naval exercises, and counterterrorism activities. Although it would be hard to argue that the partnership is not primarily motivated by shared concerns about China’s expanding influence in the area, the two also hope to capitalise on synergies between the G7 and G20 groups.

Although they have signed several defence agreements, actual cooperation in their defence sectors is limited, reflecting different military priorities. Nevertheless, their militaries exercise together, and both countries see each other as essential conduits to engage with the developing world.

In November 2019, Tokyo and New Delhi held their first “two-plus-two” Foreign and Defence Ministerial Meeting, which was a significant upgrade from previous meetings. The joint statement highlighted the potential for increased bilateral security and defence cooperation and explored New Delhi and Tokyo’s converging Indo-Pacific vision.

The joint statement issued subsequent to the meeting acknowledged the presence of mutual strategic interests and emerging security challenges. In particular, the dialogue was deemed to augment the strategic depth of the bilateral security and defence cooperation. The dialogue also served as a platform for Tokyo and New Delhi to finalize the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) concerning military logistics. This agreement implies the enhancement of military relations between India and Japan. Through the agreement, Japan gained access to India’s facilities in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and India gained access to Japan’s naval facility in Djibouti.⁵

Their determination to enhance the ‘global strategic partnership’ between the two states relies heavily on the different groups they involve themselves with, such as the G4 countries and the QUAD maritime cooperation. The G4 countries, which include India and Japan, aim to reform multilateral institutions, and they have often reiterated the inability of the UNSC to effectively address global issues. They consider this as an opportunity to expand their leadership in defending their interests. Being members of the QUAD, India and Japan also recognizes the significance of the Indo-Pacific region and the dangers and threats posed by China’s assertive behaviour._⁶

The strategic partnership between the two states promotes varied interests in maintaining maritime cooperation to curb the growth of their neighbour in the region and maintain their goal of a ‘Free and open Indo-Pacific’ (FOIP).

A way forward: A Post-Covid Partnership

“Closer India-Japan cooperation is vital in the post-COVID world. Our nations are firmly committed to democratic values. Together, we are key pillars of a stable and secure Indo-Pacific region. I am equally glad that we are working closely in various multilateral forums as well.”
_{– PM Modi}

India and Japan have a longstanding history of strong bilateral ties and have recently reaffirmed and reiterated time and again their commitment to their Special Strategic and Global Partnership. During the 14th India-Japan Annual Summit in March 2022, the leaders emphasized the importance of combating COVID-19, addressing climate change, boosting trade and investment, and promoting clean energy partnerships. Japan has pledged to invest ¥5 trillion ($42 billion) in India over the next five years in order to finance governmental and commercial projects of mutual interest. They have also signed several agreements to cover domains such as cybersecurity, infrastructure development, wastewater management, and sustainable urban development under the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII).

The leaders of both States focused on tackling climate change through the India-Japan Clean Energy Partnership, promoting economic relations, enhancing digital partnerships, and improving connectivity in the Indo-Pacific. They also discussed the Russia-Ukraine War and the need for disaster management initiatives. In the future, India and Japan should work closely to strengthen the Quad, tackle issues with China, and invest in sustainable development and infrastructure. The 5 trillion yen investment by Japan in India is expected to boost economic growth and development.

The leaders of both countries focused on combating climate change through the India-Japan Clean Energy Alliance, developing economic relations, strengthening digital partnerships, and improving Indo-Pacific connectivity. They also discussed the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the importance of disaster management strategies. India and Japan should collaborate in the future to strengthen the Quad, address difficulties with China, and invest in sustainable development and infrastructure. Japan’s 5 trillion-yen investment in India is anticipated to spur economic growth and development.

In light of China’s global rise, India and Japan are committed to improving their relations in several areas, including medical assistance, new and emerging technologies, and defence cooperation. Moreover, both India and Japan have also agreed to cooperate in various areas and sectors such as electric vehicles, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), renewable energy, and cybersecurity, among others, in order for them to strengthen their partnership.

India’s Act East Policy benefits from Japan’s location in East Asia and its investment in India’s Northeast Region. Both countries are committed to realizing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.

The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to produce a new world order in the post-pandemic era and has already accelerated China’s growing supremacy in the region vis-a-vis the US, leading to unprecedented levels of major power conflicts. East Asia has witnessed an increase in economic retaliation policies, largely driven by geopolitical reasons. However, there is scope for more participation in regions like an exchange, safeguard, sustainable power sources, network safety, framework, and new companies. Such joint endeavours will help two India and Japan in the Indian Sea and Indo-Pacific region.

_{(Leivon Victor and Kevin Khyriem are Research Scholars at the Department of Political Science, St. Joseph’s University, Bengaluru)}

References: