INDIA-JAPAN
No other nation knows the power of mind and value of peace better than INDIA-JAPAN! The security environment in Asia Pacific is becoming more challenging than ever before and it has made Japanese policymakers to drastically reform their national security policies and to adopt a “Proactive Contribution to Peace” approach. Japan is ready to expand its military capabilities. Prime Minister of Japan Mr. Shinzo Abe aims to have his country’s pacifist constitution revised and a new version in effect by 2020. The Japanese military, with more than 227,000 active troops, has operated under various interpretations of the clause as Self-Defense Forces. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe believes that this is the right time to establish the status of the SDF explicitly in the constitution. This step will generate different reactions from different interest groups in Japan as we have seen in 2015 when Japanese military legislation was passed to allow the country’s military to operate overseas for “collective self-defense” for allies. There is no doubt, that with such moves, the year 2020 will mark the rise of a new Japan!
India-Japan Economic Cooperation
India’s three Ds of Democracy, Demography and Demand and Japan’s manufacturing technology and innovations make a combination that can lead the global market for many more years to come. Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi’s ‘collective efforts, inclusive growth’ and Prime Minister Mr. Shinzo Abe’s three arrows of monetary stimulus, fiscal flexibility, and structural reforms are responsible for the breathtaking progress that both countries are going through. There is a great enthusiasm on both sides and both countries are eager to take steps which contribute toward the progress of each other, signing civil nuclear deal is one of those steps!
The bilateral trade between India and Japan is expected to reach US$50 billion by 2020. Prime Minister of Japan Mr. Shinzo Abe’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy is vital to improve the connectivity between Asia and Africa. Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi has appreciated Japan’s greater engagement in the region. Both countries are actively collaborating to build the industrial corridors/industrial networks between Asia and Africa and to develop smart islands in the indo-pacific region.
During the last two and a half years, the trust between India and Japan has reached a new height, last year Japan has committed 25 billion USD investments in India. Japanese companies are enthusiastically participating in the key initiatives of our current government like Make in India, Digital India, and Smart Cities. Here I would like to quote the words of Prime Minister of Japan Mr. Shinzo Abe that “PM Narendra Modi’s economic policies are like Shinkansen – high speed, safe and reliable and carrying many people along. A strong India is good for Japan and a strong Japan is good for India.” In 2014, Japan has announced to invest $33.5 billion over the next five years through both private and public investment. To facilitate Japanese investment the Indian government has provided a dedicated structure called ‘Japan Plus’, this platform is facilitating the Japanese companies including SME/MSMEs to fast track their investment proposals in India. Japan is the first country which is allowed to invest in the infrastructure in North East India along with other strategically important parts of the country like Jharkhand and Andaman and Nicobar Islands; this is a reflection of trust between our country’s leadership.
India – Japan Defense Cooperation and ‘Make in India’
In today’s defense industry, robotics and electronics capabilities are crucial and Japan has got a strong base in them. The Japanese defense industry designs and manufactures a wide variety of weapons ranging from tanks to submarines and their Navy and Air Force capabilities are world known. Japan’s MCV (Maneuver Combat Vehicle), TYPE 3 CHU-SAM- Surface to Air Missile, Izumo and Hyuga class ‘helicopter destroyers’, F-15J/DJ, Akizuki class of destroyers, TYPE 10 MBT, Kawasaki P-1, Mitsubishi F-2 and Atago class destroyers etc. are some of shining examples of the tremendous capabilities that Japanese defense has got, there is no reason why Japan should not play a wider role in the world.
In April 2014, Japan reviewed its policy guidelines for overseas transfers of defense equipment and technology. The Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology lifts the Japan’s self-imposed ban on arms exports, which was in place since 1976. Japan also established the Strategy on Defense Production and Technological Bases in June 2014. And in September 2015, Japan approved the military legislation that enabled it to exercise the right of ‘collective self-defense’ for allies.
The Japanese defense technologies including communications, electronic warfare technologies and surveillance radars offer great opportunities for cooperation. Japan has been identified as a privileged partner in the Make in India and both sides are interested in joint development and production of defense equipment. Japan can play a crucial role in India’s ‘project 75’ too. In October 2014, the ‘Project 75l’ was cleared by the Defense Acquisition Council and US$8 billion was allocated for the acquisition of 6 advanced attack submarines. All six submarines are expected to be constructed in Indian shipyards as a part of Make in India. India has invited the global players including the Soryu-class submarines manufacturers, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, to participate in the ‘Project 75’. The Maritime power is crucial for national power. Increasing domain awareness through a network of radar stations with friendly nations is one of the key focus areas of India’s new maritime strategy.
India and Japan are gearing up to produce world class defense technologies to give a good competition in the global defense market. Our government to government deal on US-2 amphibious aircraft will give a boost to this partnership as Japan’s ShinMaywa Industries, the manufacturer of US-2 amphibious aircraft has offered to set up a plant in India under ‘Make in India’ initiative, to cater to the global markets.
India and Japan have shared commitments to maritime security, freedom of navigation, unhindered trade, and respect for international law. Some other notable developments in India-Japan Defense Cooperation during the last two and a half years are: In 2015, India and Japan signed two crucial agreements concerning the Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology and concerning Security Measures for the Protection of Classified Military Information. In the same year, Japan has also become a permanent partner in Malabar Naval Exercise. The frequency of our Defense Policy Dialogues and Military-to-Military Talks, demonstrate the commitment to expand this partnership. Some of our major defense deals are about to conclude and soon we will hear some good news in this direction. Our strong relationship and combined capacities can help the world to deal with the challenges of radicalism, extremism, and terrorism.
India is a young country, 60% of our population is youth. Japan has got the technology and experience which are unmatched in the world. This is the best time to explore what we can do together! Railways, connectivity, infrastructure, and manufacturing are the key areas of Indo-Japan cooperation and now we are also shaping new partnership in space science, marine and earth since, textiles, sports, agriculture and postal banking.
India and Japan together are a winning combination. Both countries have got an action-oriented leadership. There is a strong cultural connection between India and Japan and people of both sides have a great respect for each other. A unique feature of our ties is the cooperation between states in India and prefectures in Japan! 2017 is the ‘year of Japan-India friendly exchanges’, our people to people exchanges will help us to recognize the commonalities between our great cultures.
