Anudeep asked: How India-Japan relations can counter-balance Chinese assertions in the Asian theatre?

Rup Narayan Das replies: India-Japan relationship has its own economic, political, and strategic imperatives, and should not be seen through the prism of containing China. As of now, India has received approximately US$15 billion in FDI from Japan. This accounts for about 7 per cent of the total FDI in India. Besides, there are more than 1,000 Japanese companies who have their offices in India. Also, India has been the largest recipient of Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA). Japanese companies are household names in India, be it automobiles or consumer durables. India’s infrastructural development projects of about $1 trillion, the prospect of High Speed Railways, and the recent decision to permit FDI in the railways, offer excellent win-win opportunities to both India and Japan.

China’s assertiveness in the Asian theatre is certainly an issue which India and Japan cannot ignore. Both India and Japan would like to engage China for regional peace and stability, and to create and support a more balanced regional architecture. The defence cooperation between India and Japan should help in facilitating peace and stability in the region. A geo-strategic equilibrium in the Asia-Pacific region is in the interest of all the stakeholders as far as maritime security, freedom of navigation and energy security are concerned.

For more on the subject, please refer to my following publication:

“The China Factor in India-Japan Relations,” China Brief, Jamestown Foundation, 14 (2), January 24, 2014.

Posted on February 03, 2014