Sep 12, 2010

Indo Japan Relations – Strategic Dialogue Concluded

            4th round of the India-Japan Strategic Dialogue was concluded in New Delhi. The Indian External Affairs Minister thanked Japan for continuing Official Development Assistance to India as well as assistance to flagship infrastructure projects like the Dedicated Freight Corridor, the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor and the establishment of IIT-Hyderabad. Japanese Foreign Minister Mr Okada reiterated Japan’s commitment towards these projects. A significant marker is Japan’s decision to commence negotiations on a bilateral Agreement on the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy and consultations within the G-4 process for reform of the United Nations including its Security Council. The Japanese foreign minister indicated that the decision to launch the negotiations for the nuclear cooperation agreement was probably one of the toughest given the background that Japan is the only country that has experienced atomic attacks and against the policy of seeking a nuclear weapon free world. Japanese Foreign Minister stated that the focus of Japan will be on wording thus, “ Having said that, I look forward to engaging in in-depth discussions with the Indian side regarding the formulation or wording so that the philosophy of nonproliferation and disarmament will be built into the agreement. I do not think we can say, we can suggest that India refrain absolutely from conducting any nuclear tests. But if such a thing were to happen, then I think Japan will have no option but to state that we shall suspend our cooperation”.

            The increase in engagement between India and Japan has many vectors the primary two being that of China and economy. While both India and Japan see China as an emerging threat the latter having already dislodged Japan as the No 2 economy in the world, there are concerns on the security front as well with Beijing increasingly aggressive in the Northern waters and the Yellow sea. On the economic front the Japanese economy seems to be coming out of a long recession but the indications are not that evident. The Indian large market size with the shrinking of the European and American one would provide Japan an opening that will see increase in engagement with New Delhi. That Japan is willing to have a greater truck with New Delhi is evident with Japan’s decision to commence negotiations on a bilateral Agreement on the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy despite being a vocal critic of India’s nuclear stance of having carried out nuclear tests and staying out of the NPT and the CTBT. Japan is very clear that it would not have any truck with India in case of another test and will welcome India signing the CTBT.

SEP 2010