India-Japan Relations

You are here

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Whatsapp
  • Linkedin
  • Print
  • Kovid Kumar asked: What are the future prospects of India and Japan maritime relations?

    Rajaram Panda replies: The present level of cooperation between India and Japan in the maritime domain is good and the future could be better. Both are heavily dependent on imports of oil from the Persian Gulf. Therefore securing critical energy supply routes provides scope for close naval cooperation. India’s geographical position qualifies it to play a critical strategic role in ensuring maritime safety. The Indian Navy has proved its usefulness in this regard and the Japanese are grateful for the Indian Navy’s rescue of the Japanese vessel MV Alondra Rainbow which was hijacked by pirates in November 1999. The Eight-fold Initiatives for Strengthening Japan-India Global Partnership of April 2005 provides the framework for joint exercises against piracy, information sharing, technical assistance, cooperation between Coast Guards, etc. As threats to maritime trade and energy supplies from State and non-State actors continue to increase, one can envisage consolidation of the existing cooperation between India and Japan as well as the further strengthening of such cooperation in future.

    Convergence of Strategic Interests between India and Japan

    The Joint Statement catapulted India-Japan strategic and global partnership to a “New Stage” in which the bilateral relationship is going to be deepened on all fronts, embracing regional, global and economic issues.

    January 07, 2010

    India and Japan: Strengthening Defence Co-operation

    There is a growth trajectory in defence cooperation between India and Japan, complemented by the burgeoning economic relationship providing robustness to the partnership.

    December 22, 2009

    Ballistic Missile Defence: Perspectives on India-Japan Cooperation

    Both India and Japan have evinced interest in deploying defences against ballistic missiles because of the threat they pose. Significantly, both have shifted their stance on US Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD), from previous opposition to active support. Notwithstanding certain basic differences between India and Japan on the nature and degree of interest and participation at present, shared interests offer an opportunity for them to cooperate with each other on the BMD issue to further consolidate the 'strategic partnership' understanding they have evolved.

    January 2007

    Security of Sea Lines: Prospects for India-Japan Cooperation

    Ensuring access to crude oil and natural gas forms a crucial component of India's security calculus. It also critically underlines the significance of sea transportation through which much of these vital resources are traded. With India virtually insular in terms of its land communications, its trade interests are increasingly focused on the maritime domain.

    January 2007

    Koizumi’s Visit to India: Forgotten Friendship to Active Partnership

    Japan’s relations with India are at crossroads, even as we recently completed 53 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties. The visit of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi recently as part of his four-nation tour which took him to South Asia and Europe proved to be an apt opportunity for both countries to carve strategies to solidify ties for the future. The significance of Koizumi’s visit cannot be understated considering the fact that this is the first visit by a Japanese head of state after a hiatus of nearly half a decade.

    June 02, 2005

    Koizumi Visit – Need to Advance Strategic Dialogue and Content

    The visit of the Japanese PM Mr. Junichiro Koizumi to Delhi on April 29 is the last in a series of high levels visits that have the potential to fundamentally re- alter India's bi-lateral relations with the major poles of relevance in the post Cold War/post 9-11 global systemic and the challenge will be in realizing the potential that has been agreed to at the highest political level. These visits began with that of Ms. Condi Rice, the US Secretary of State in mid March and this was followed by the Chinese PM Mr. Wen Jiabao in early April.

    May 02, 2005

    Pages

    Top