Japan, India Boost Security Ties With Eye on China;Interests Also Aligned on Trade in Defense Goods

By Shinsuke Uemura and Tomomi Asano / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writers

16:54 JST, August 21, 2024

NEW DELHI — The confirmation of accelerating security cooperation at the Japan-India two-plus-two meeting stems from the two countries’ unity of intention to strengthen countermeasures against China, which has intensified its hegemonic moves.

Japan, along with the United States and Europe, opposes Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and seeks to deter Russia by drawing India closer, as it maintains friendly relations with Russia.

Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said at a press conference after Tuesday’s two-plus-two meeting that Japan and India shared a determination to work together as partners who are expected to be major contributors to peace and stability in the world.

Meanwhile, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said the two countries share common values regarding the Indo-Pacific region.

A sense of urgency over China is behind their agreement to strengthen security cooperation.

Japan has been subjected to China Coast Guard vessels intruding into Japan’s territorial waters in and around the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture.

Meanwhile, relations between India and China have deteriorated since their two militaries clashed in the Galwan Valley in the Kashmir region in June 2020.

China has been expanding its activities, such as by docking a Chinese research vessel at a port in Sri Lanka, one of India’s neighboring countries, in August 2022.

India, which is not dependent on the United States and Europe, has pursued strategic autonomy by working with countries that can bring the greatest national benefit. India now buys almost half of its arms from Russia.

In recent years, however, India has been promoting domestic arms production and diversification of procurement sources. India’s interests thus coincide with those of Japan, which has been promoting defense exports.

As for Russian aggression in Ukraine, India has refrained from joining Japan, the United States and Europe in sanctioning Russia. India continues to import cheap Russian crude oil, creating a gap between its position and that of Japan.

Japan hopes to deepen cooperation with India through defense exports, increased cooperation in the space and cyber realms, and the expansion of joint training programs.