Contemporary
Japan-India Relations and the China factor

Zubaidullo UBAIDULLOEVPhD Student
Doctoral Program in International and Advanced Japanese Studies
University of Tsukuba

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"There are powerful, creative impulses
and a new vitality in all the people of Asia,"
Jawaharlal Nehru

Abstract
As a result of India and Japan‟s new strategic vision, Japan-India relations
witnessed a positive momentum during the recent period. Both countries, Japanand India renewed their interest to each other recently. Both share a common
vision on vital issues such as security, energy policy, position on greater politicaland economic engagement in Asia and potential for strategic and economic
partnerships.
India accomplishing a dynamic development and its economic strength
grows rapidly. Since the end of bipolar world, changes in India‟s foreign policy, its
outlook and strategies are noticeable in the changing post-Cold War international
environment. India is accommodating its foreign policy to increase its global
influence and status in order to become a key global player. During recent years
India expanded its strategic vision, notably in Asia and its military, diplomatic andeconomic power have expanded far beyond Jawaharlal Nehru's non-aligned
position.
The paper will focus on the argument that, the rise and development ofstrategic, economic and security relations and cooperation between Japan andIndia cannot be out of attention in China and the rise of China as an economic
and military power brings the both countries together on several issues. The
attempts have been done to determine and analyze some of these issues in thispaper. The two countries have common global objectives, which reinforce theirsecurity cooperation. There are expectations that, shared determination to raisebilateral relations follows by comprehensive partnership and cooperation in ahigher level between Japan and India.

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I. Introduction
The 19th century was the European, the 20th century was the American,
and supposition has been made by many, including academicians and politiciansthat the 21st century will be Asia‟s. Asia is now truly emerging as the leading
growth centre of the global economy and exerting a greater influence in the
global affairs. The peace, stability and development in Asia are indispensable forworld peace and development and the future of the world is intimately linked to
the future of Asia. Since the end of Cold War during the recent years someemerging powers from Asia, like China & India have been challenging thedominance of the traditional world powers. China, India & Japan, the three
countries of Asia are already known as the great powers. In this regard, thesethree Asian countries are the main players, which can share and contest for
influence and leadership. The hypothesis and assumption of Asian century
basically will depend on these three countries – China, India and Japan. Prime
Minister Wen Jiabao of China visited New Delhi in May 2005 and declared thetwo countries India and China as the linchpins of an "Asian century." 1 The
relations between these three Asia‟s major powers China, India and Japan may
become one of the most significant tasks in international affairs in current period.
Emmott argues that the relationship between China, India and Japan is going tobecome increasingly difficult during the next decade or more. A whole array ofdisputes, historical bitternesses and regional flashpoints surround or weigh down
upon all three countries.2
According to Hisashi Owada, Japan is finally emerging as a player on theworld scene after living in the "dream world" and "psychological cocoon" of theCold War and becoming a force to be reckoned with on the world stage - asituation that is bound to have a major effect on the country's relationship with its
neighbors and with the United States. “This „psychological cocoon‟ in which theJapan of the Cold War period smugly secluded herself from the outside realitiesof the world, came abruptly to an end with the demise of the Cold War. It would
be easy to see that this new situation came as a shock on the minds of many
Japanese. In a sense, the Japanese were thrown out into the harsh environmentof the real world, with no clear sense of orientation.” 3 Akihiko Tanaka, whose
argument is quoted in the work of Kevin Cooney “Japan‟s Foreign Policy since1945”, mentioned that “Since the first diplomatic bluebook published in 1957
posited three elements of Japan‟s Foreign Policy – the importance of the ties withthe free world, the affinity with Asia, and the importance of the United Nations,
the Japanese have been struggling to find out the appropriate priority between
the ties with the U.S. and the relations with Asia.” 4
Relations between India and Japan during the Cold War period wereconstrained due to the fact, that India pursued a non-aligned foreign policy andwas in close relations and cooperation with the Soviet Union, and Japan was an3

important ally of the US. From the 1960s to the 1980s the bilateral relations
between India and Japan were relatively inactive, mainly because of different
approaches towards international politics. Both countries had different politicalorientations. There is an argument (mostly by media), that both countries India
and Japan were on the opposite sides of the Cold War politics.5 But, although
they were not on the “same” side, India and Japan were definitely not on the“opposite” sides of the Cold War either. In September 1951 at San Francisco 52
states have assembled to sign a peace treaty with Japan, a country defeated in
WWII. However, India did not participate and did not join those countries,
because of the understanding, that the Japanese Peace settlement was acomponent of the Cold War politics. Instead, India signed a separate peace
treaty with Japan in June 1952, which was one of the first treaties Japan signed
as an independent country since the Second World War.
Mansingh Lalit examines, that if India was guilty of dismissing Japan as acamp follower of the US, the Japanese in turn, perceived India as a „chaotic,
dysfunctional, desperately poor country, and not as a potential partner‟. 6 India‟soutlook shaped nonalignment, peaceful coexistence and recognition of China‟splace in the world. Japan‟s position was based on alignment and containment ofChina. These differences influenced how both Japan and India viewed eachother and adapted their responses to important problems in the world. As a resultof this, both nations moved slowly and cautiously with respect to each other inpolitical and security terms. Relations between them progressed extremely
slowly and remained limited in economic, commercial and cultural spheres.
However, Japan was the largest bilateral donor and major contributor of
economic aid to India during the period of Cold War since the late 1950s and it isin the same position to the present. Japanese Prime Minister Kishi Nobusuke
made a visit to India in May 1957. Following this visit the next year in 1958 Japanbegan to provide yen loans to India, as the first loan aid provided by Japan. In
return, the first Prime Minister of independent India Jawaharlal Nehru made avisit to Japan later the same year in October 1957. As a result of these two highlevel visits India received its Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) in 1958.
Today‟s Prime Minister of India Dr.Manmohan Singh as the head of Indiandelegation at Indo-Japanese seminar in New Delhi in March 1986 describedIndia and Japan as the two unequal partners “Whether we like it or not, I think therelations between India and Japan are those between two unequal powers.
…Perhaps Japan is a superpower with many other preoccupations, and worrying
about Indian problems is not that much on the priority agenda.” 7 In the words of
S.S.Menon there has never been any doubt about the compatibility between
India and Japan. For India, Japan has always been a most admired partner andas the first Asian country that managed to develop without losing her identity,
without losing her "Asianness." 8 India traditionally has viewed Japan in theperspective of the common Asian identity. Relations between Japan and China at
one hand and also India and China have been delicate. In this regard, rise anddevelopment of strategic, economic and security relations and cooperation
between Japan and India cannot be out of attention in China.

4This paper is divided into the introduction, two sections and conclusion.
The first section will focus on the contemporary relations between India andJapan, especially since the end of Cold War till present. Rise and development ofstrategic and security relations and cooperation between India and Japan at one
hand, and impact of these relations on China at another, will be under the
discussion in this section. As part of the first section, attempts also will be doneto analyze the perceptions of India and Japan towards the rise of China, its
economic and military power. The second section will touch the issue of the
China-India-Japan triangle; possibility, challenges and opportunities of this new
suggestion for strategic and economic cooperation of these three Asian countries.

II. Japan-India Relations since the end of Cold War and China factor
Since the end of the Cold War, relations between India and Japan stepped
up. The 1980s marked the beginning of a new phase in Indo-Japan relations.
One factor in bringing about a new approach was the first major joint venture
between India and Japan, the Maruti-Suzuki plant to manufacture cars in India.
Prime Minister of Japan Mr.Yasuhiro Nakasone made a visit to India in 1984,
which was the first visit by a Japanese Prime Minister in 23 years. Since this visitof PM Y.Nakasone in 1984, Prime Minister of India Mr.Rajiv Gandhi made threevisits to Japan in 1985, 1987 and 1988. These visits established a high-level
political dialogue between the two countries. During Prime Minister Rajiv
Gandhi‟s visit to Japan in November 1985 the Agreement on Science andTechnology was signed between India and Japan, which stimulated andincreased the frequency of exchanges in this area.
During the 1990s India began its “Look East” policy, which was developedand enacted during the governments of Prime Ministers P.V. Narasimha Rao(1991 - 1996) and Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1998 - 2004). India‟s “Look East” policy
and the economic liberalization process in 1991 gave a further stimulus to therelations between India and Japan. According to Sikri the “Look East” policy ofIndia increasingly constitutes a strategic dimension and component of India‟sforeign policy. Cooperation between India and the East Asian countries is amajor prerequisite for the 21st century to become the century of Asia. 9 During thisperiod - 1990s India redefined its nonalignment policy and reviewed its place inthe world. Japan and India renewed their interest to each other since the end of
Cold War and collapse of the bipolar world. Both entered a new world with theirreviewed foreign policy in order to have a place in the world and global affairs,
and have a political role and engagement in Asia and the world. Ambassador
Eric Gonsalves, who chaired a session in IPCS Seminar “Towards India-Japan
Strategic and Global Partnership” 10th January 2007, IIC, New Delhi shared his
views regarding the progress in relations between India and Japan and their rolein international affairs, that “The Joint Statement between India and Japan is fullof substance, indicating that we have moved a long way from the past and are

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beginning to make progress. The centre of gravity in international affairs isreturning to Asia.”10Japan-India relations became chilled since India‟s nuclear test in 1998.
Japan, as the only state and nation, which has suffered a nuclear attack inhuman history, joined the international community to criticize the mentioned
India‟s nuclear test in May 1998 and suspended all political exchanges with India
as well as official development assistance and economic assistance was frozen
for nearly three years. However, matters appeared to be returning to normalwhen the Japanese State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Mr.Ichita Yamamoto
visited India in October 1999. This was the first high-level political visit since
India‟s nuclear test in 1998. In November 1999, India‟s Foreign Minister, Jaswant
Singh, visited Japan, marking the normalization of relations between the twonations.11 In August 2000, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori made a fiveday visit to India that helped the ice to be broken between the two nations.
Japanese aid to India resumed after the visit of Prime Minister Mori to India in
2000, and the 9/11 terrorist attack in 2001.
During Mori‟s visit to India, India and Japan reached an agreement toestablish "Japan-India Global Partnership in the 21st Century." In return after one
year in December, 2001 Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Japan,
where "Japan-India Joint Declaration" was issued by the two nations‟ leaders,consisting of high-level dialogue, economic, military and anti-terrorism
cooperation. Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited India in April,
2005, and signed Joint Statement "Japan-India Partnership in the New Asian
Era: Strategic Orientation of Japan-India Global Partnership" with Indian Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh. During the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro
Koizumi to India, both countries have agreed on strategic partnership to realise
the full potential of their cooperation in diverse fields. An eight fold initiative has
been outlined towards this end in a joint statement issued at the end of talks
between Mr.Koizumi and Dr.Manmohan Singh that covered a wide-range ofbilateral, regional and international issues. The joint statement, captioned "IndiaJapan Partnership in the New Asian Era: Strategic Orientation of India-Japan
Global Partnership", said the two countries reiterated their support to each otherfor the permanent membership of the expanded UN Security Council. Bothcountries shared the view that it was important to take a decision on Security
Council reforms before the Summit meeting in September 2005. “They note withsatisfaction the on-going cooperation between Japan and India, including in the
G-4 setting, to bring about reform of the U.N. Security Council, by expanding themembership of both permanent and non-permanent categories, to make the U.N.
more representative, more credible and more effective.” 12 Also, this jointstatement of April 2005 stated the resumption of the Japan Overseas
Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) program that had remained suspended since
1979 due to policy changes by the Government of India in 1978. In April 2006,
after a gap of 30 years, a JOCV group was sent to India to teach the Japanese
language.13
During the period, when Japanese Prime Minister Abe was in office, therelations between the two countries developed and improved into the strategic

6and global partnership. On August 2007 Prime Minister Abe gave a speech in the
Indian parliament. In his speech, entitled „Confluence of the Two Seas,‟ he notedthat the “Japan-India relationship is blessed with the largest potential fordevelopment of any bilateral relationship anywhere in the world.” Also hementioned that “a strong India is in the best interest of Japan and a strong Japanis in the best interest of India.” 14 "This will be the most important bilateralrelationship (for Japan) in the world" told Mr. Abe while inaugurating the IndiaJapan Friendship Year-2007 on December 15. Mr.Abe, in his book, "Toward A
Beautiful Country," published in July 2006, declares that, "It is of crucial
importance to Japan's national interest that we further strengthen our relations
with India." Mr.Abe optimistically states that "it will not be a surprise if in another10 years, Japan-India relations overtake Japan-U.S. and Japan-China
relations."15
A significant progress and improvements in bilateral relations of India andJapan became evident during the visits of Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan
Singh to Japan in 2006 and 2008. Relations between both countries entered a
new era, especially since the October 2008 visit of Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan
Singh to Japan, when the both side signed „Joint Declaration on Security
Cooperation between Japan and India‟. The significance of this document lies in
the fact that since WWII Japan had such a security pact only with the US andAustralia. This may be an issue of concern in China, but Prime Minister Taro Asosaid, “We regard security cooperation with India as very important … and we do
not have any assumption of a third country as a target such as China.” 16
Regarding this matter Dr.Manmohan Sinh said "Economic partnership andsecurity cooperation between India and Japan are not at the cost of any third
country, least of all China.”17
During the recent years Japan and India have strengthened their bilateralrelations, which cause concerns among Chinese scholars who fear that, thesestrong relations would 'contain' China. Regarding this Professor Sun Shihai
Deputy Director of the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies of the Chinese Academyof Social Sciences has argued, that “Japan and India have intensified bilateralrelations recently causing concerns among scholars who fear the alliance would'contain' China.” 18 Another Chinese scholar like Ma Jiali of China Institute ofContemporary International Relations has shown their concern on Japan‟sintentions in making closer ties with India. “If Japan wants to have good relations
with India it is okay. But if it is aimed at exerting pressure on China or containing
China, it is dangerous.” 19
China is rising very rapidly and already during a short period of time
became one of the world largest economies. In modern period China hasachieved a level, that there is already recognition of its influence regionally andinternationally. In this regard, it is difficult to imagine the security and defense
policy of India and Japan without the Chinese factor. In relation to this matter, forinstance a Japanese politician Ichita Yamamoto examines and argues that as
China continues to increase its military spending by more than 10% per year andit now has the third largest military budget in the world, in this regards, security in
Asia hinges upon China.20

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The rise of China as an economic and military power brings the bothcountries India and Japan together on several issues based on historical andmodern bases, such as:- India and Japan both had stormy history with China;- Japan and independent India never shared hostilities;- Both countries India and Japan share a common vision on vital issues,
like energy policy, security of sea lines in the Indian Ocean, andpotential for economic partnership;- There are common security interests between Japan and India;- India and Japan can‟t see China as a hegemonic power in East Asia;- India and Japan are the largest democracies in Asia;

III.

China-India-Japan Triangle: The possibility of strategic cooperation orrivalry for leadership in Asia?

Since Mr. Koizumi's visit to India in April 2005, there have been several
important developments having a bearing on the triangular relationship involving
India, Japan and China. The first was the surprise and significant visit of Mr.
Shinzo Abe, who succeeded Mr. Koizumi as the Japanese Prime Minister, toChina in October, 2006. Generally, the convention has been that a newJapanese Prime Minister visits the US first, underlying the importance attachedby him to Japan's strategic relations with the US. Mr. Abe broke this convention
and went to China first. Here two arguments may come out:Mr.Abe‟s move to improve relations with China was generally motivated bybilateral reasons and hence had little impact on Japan‟s relationship eitherwith India or with the US.
Mr.Abe‟s choice to visit China first as a new prime minister was not only amessage to the US, but also to other countries of the world. It was a
message to India, that as much as Abe was and his successors might beinterested in strengthening relations and cooperation with India, Japan‟s
primary interests goes to its immediate neighbors, first of all China.
The second was the visit of President Hu Jintao of China to India from November
20 to 23, 2006. The third was the visit of Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan
Singh to Japan from December 13 to 16, 2006. The fourth was the visit of Mr.
Wen Jiabo, the Chinese Prime Minister, to Japan in April 2007. Since the visit of
Mr. Zhu Rongji, the then Chinese Prime Minister, to Japan in 2000, there had
been no visit to Japan by either the Chinese President or the Prime Minister. The
fifth was the visit of Prime Minister of Japan Mr. Shinzo Abe to India in August
2007. The sixth was the December 2007 visit of Prime Minister Mr. Yasuo
Fukuda to China. The seventh was the visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to
Japan in May 2008. The eighth was the second visit of Dr.Manmohan Singh to
India as the prime minister in October 2008. The ninth was the visit of Prime
Minister Mr.Taro Aso of Japan to China in April 2009.
Before Dr. Manmohan Singh became the Prime Minister in May, 2004,
there used to be a talk of a strategic triangular relationship involving India, Japan8

and China. The debate on this idea was, in fact, initiated by the then Japanese
Ambassador to India, Mr. Yasukuni Enoki, who was reported as saying that a
China-Japan-India trilateral relationship would be conducive to regional stability
and prosperity. He was also quoted as claiming that India and Japan had held
informal discussions on the subject, but this idea had not been formally put toChina.21
While the Chinese authorities refrained from commenting on this idea, it
evoked interest in some sections of the Chinese academic circles. In an article
contributed to the Government-controlled "People's Daily" on April 30, 2004, Mr.
Feng Zhaokui, Research Fellow at the Japan Research Institute of the Chinese
Academy of Social Sciences, said: "Among China, Japan and India there
shouldn't be the kind of thinking of "pulling another over to one's side so as tocontain the other" or joining hands with a superpower in regions outside Asia to
contain or even encircle one of the three countries. China, Japan and India eachlay great emphasis on the importance of relations with the United States. In themeantime, they should attach great importance to the mutual relations with one
another rather than letting oneself become a pawn of a superpower outside Asia
in containing one of the countries within the region. This is of particularimportance in the case of Japan-US military alliance that shouldn't have theintent of targeting China. China, Japan and India each pay attention todeveloping relations with ASEAN; all want to establish a free trade area with
ASEAN. In dealing with the relations with ASEAN, the three countries should
build up a virtuous and healthy competitive relationship while at the same timeenhance and strengthen their sense of urgency in cooperation among China,
Japan and India." 22
Deputy Director of the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies under the Chinese
Academy of Social Sciences Professor Sun Shihai argues, that "China, India
and Japan should initiate strategic dialogues which would not only be beneficial
for enhanced mutual trust but also for regional peace, stability and development.
…There is already bilateral strategic dialogue mechanism between China andIndia and China and Japan. We should try and promote a trilateral strategic
dialogue between the three major powers for the benefit of Asia as a whole."23
However, we can see that differences do exist among Chinese scholars
and analysts on the triangle of China-Japan-India. For instance, another Chinese
scholar Liu Xuecheng, a researcher of the China Institute of International Studies,
thinks that the parlance "China-Japan-India axis" contradicts the new security
concept, and that bilateral cooperation among China, India and Japan is more
realistic than trilateral cooperation. According to Liu Xuecheng China should
serve as "axis" instead of "center" in Asian cooperation.24
The sense of distrust might be a reason that Chinese conduce to see therole of US behind the endeavors to bring India and Japan closer together. The
Chinese may not see it as a result of India's “Look East” policy and change inJapan‟s foreign policy since the end of the Cold War and renewed interest ofJapan and India to each other. Instead, they see as an American attempt tocontain China. Before Dr. Manmohan Singh the Prime Minister of India made his
visit to Japan in December 2006, his interview to the Japanese daily "Yomiuri

9Shimbun" (December 5, 2006) became under the attention of China's IndiaJapan watchers and analyzers, basically because of two reasons. The first was,that Dr. Manmohan Singh differently characterized India's relations with Japanand India‟s relations with China. He characterized India and Japan as "the largest
and the most developed democracies in Asia, which share a strong commitment
to freedom, the rule of law and respect for human rights." 25 But, he characterized
India and China as "the two largest developing countries" of Asia and added: "My
own view is that the world is large enough to accommodate the development
ambitions of both countries. And, therefore, there is immense scope for us tocooperate with one another."26 The second reason is what Dr. Manmohan Singh
had to say about Prime Minister Mr. Shinzo Abe's proposal for a new four-way
framework of strategic dialogue and cooperation, involving Japan, India, Australia
and the US. Dr.Manmohan Singh said: "Our bilateral relations (between India
and Japan) are rooted in similar perceptions about the evolving environment inour region..... I wish to use my forthcoming visit to Japan to gain a better
understanding about Prime Minister Abe's idea of closer cooperation amongmajor democracies in the region."27
In the Chinese perception, a joint partnership between China and Japan inleading Asia would not evoke any concerns in Asia and it will make an idea of
21st century as the Asian era much real. But a similar joint partnership of China
and India would evoke the concerns of its South Asian neighbors, first of all
Pakistan. There is possibility for strengthening bilateral strategic ties with India,
but no joint leadership in Asia.
The policies of India, China and Japan will continue to be marked by a mixof healthy co-operation in some fields and unhealthy competition in some others
and convergence of threat perceptions in some areas and divergence in certain
others. They have shared concerns regarding likely threats from non-state
actors such as pirates and terrorists. They also have shared views on issues
such as climate warming and protection of the environment. All three have highgrowth economies dependent on hydrocarbon imports to keep their economies
sustained. Despite their professed intention to avoid unhealthy competition inmeeting their energy requirements, such competition will be a fact of life.
Myanmar's gas is an example. At first, India and China were competing for this,but, now, Japan has joined it. By reportedly offering a price higher than what has
been offered by India, a Japanese company has been trying to under-cut the
Indian bid.
The threat perceptions for all three countries China India and Japan differ
from one another:1.
India doesn‟t have a concern over North Korea's military
nuclear ambitions;2.
But, North Korea is a big threat for national security of Japan;
3.
Japan is not concerned over Pakistan's nuclear, missile andnow space relationship with China;
4.
But, Pakistan & its nuclear programs and relations are thebiggest threat for India and its national security;

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5.

IV.

China's assistance to Pakistan in the construction of the
Gwadar port, to Sri Lanka in the construction of the
Hambantota port and to Myanmar in the construction of the
Kyaukpyu port in the Arakan does not evoke the same
concerns in Japan, as they do in India.

Conclusion

Scholars like Onkar Marwah and Jonathan D. Pollack in 1980s mentioned,
that “Thus India, China and Japan all share a potential for great power status andquite possibly near-superpower status.”28 The three emerging powers - a strong
Japan, a strong China and a strong India need to find ways to reconcile theirinterests in Asia and the world, so that they can peacefully coexist, develop andprosper. Never before in history have all three of these powers been strong at thesame time.
India-Japan relations will continue to improve because the circumstancesof the post-Cold War era – including, most notably, the rise of China – will reduce
the geographical and mental distance between them. Economic relations
between India and Japan are likely to develop as a result of current and future
economic dynamics in both countries. The strategic partnership and cooperation
between both will last long if it is reinforced by much stronger economic
cooperation.
India and Japan have declared themselves ready to take part in thehighest decision making bodies of the world. The common goal of the bothcountries is to join the United Nations Security Council as permanent members,
which have been referred to in the joint statement of December 2005. Strategic
partnerships between India and Japan will have a positive bearing on Asian
security.
India and Japan have decided and put the serious steps towards
strengthening their relationship in all major spheres, such as investment, defense,
science and technology to civilian cooperation in space and energy security. It
seems that India and Japan have rediscovered their common values andreaffirmed their proximity as ancient civilizations. The rise of China is a major
factor in the development of Indo-Japanese ties. The United States was theleader among the countries, which criticized India‟s 1998 nuclear test, but soon it
did a dramatic u-turn and by 2001 the U.S. President described India as a
strategic partner of the U.S. 29 The U.S. attempts to build India into a majorbalancer in the region. Japan and India both seek to hedge against China‟s
influence by efforts to create closer and stronger ties with other democracies in
Asia and the world. The goal is to ensure that China becomes less threatening
and eventually more cooperative.
At the symposium on Japan and India titled “Challenges and Prospects in

11

Asia-Pacific in the 21st century” held in Tokyo on March 10, 2006 sponsored by
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and co-sponsored by the Confederation ofIndian Industry, Mr. Yasuhisa Shiozaki, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs
noted “India with its remarkable economic development and active diplomacy is
drawing attention of the world. Japan welcomes the rise of India and her positive
engagement with international affairs from the perspective of peace, stability,
prosperity of Asia and international prosperity.”30
Japan and India can be good partners and may have a fruitful cooperation
to reinforce the trend towards multipolarity, which is important for the stability in
Asia and the world. Both nations have the potential to forge enduring peace andprosperity throughout Asia. However, as Nirav Patel argues, rhetoric is
insufficient to form an enduring alliance between the two nations. 31
There is already recognition of the potential of China for becoming a
superpower with both political and military status. Japan and India share acommon strategic interest on China. From an American perspective, Green notes“In all of this it is important that Japan-India relations not be premised on the
China threat and not be seen as bookends to the rise of China. It‟s nether inIndia‟s and Japan‟s interests, nor in the U.S. interests. And frequently in the pastefforts to jumpstart Japan-India relations, it seems to have been largely pushed
by those who are doing it vis-à-vis China.” 32 Both Japan and India are notdetermined to not permit China to become a hegemonic power in East Asia.
China is and would continue to be an inhibiting factor in the development of thepotential of the bilateral relations between India and Japan in the security-related
fields.

Notes
1Anand Giridharadas, “Rising India remains torn between East and West”, The New YorkTimes, August 15, 2005, available: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/14/world/asia/14ihtVJ-India.html?pagewanted=2&sq=Yasukuni Enoki&st=cse&scp=2(accessed July 13, 2009)
2
Emmott, B., Rivals: How the Power Struggle Between China, India, and Japan Will ShapeOur Next Decade. Boston/New York: Mariner Books, 2009, pp.13-14.
3Hisashi Owada, Japan in the Post-Cold War World, available:
http://www.spfusa.org/program/avs/2002/oct0702.htm
http://www.spfusa.org/program/avs/2002/oct0702.pdf (accessed July 9, 2009), p.6.
4
Kevin J. Cooney, Japan’s Foreign Policy Since 1945, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 2006, p.144.
5
Sanjeev Miglani, “India, Japan in security pact; a new architecture for Asia?”, Reuters Blogs,
25 October, 2008, available: http://blogs.reuters.com/pakistan/2008/10/25/india-japan-insecurity-pact-a-new-architecture-for-asia/ (accessed January 2009)
6
Mansingh L., “India-Japan Relations”. IPCS Brief No.43. Institute of Peace and Conflict
Studies, New Delhi, India, 2007.
7
Bajpai U.S., India and Japan: A New Relationship? New Delhi: Lancer, 1988, p.2.
8
Report of IPCS Seminar “Towards India-Japan Strategic and Global Partnership” held at
the India International Centre on 10th January 2007, Article No. 2198 , 31 January 2007,
Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, New Delhi, available:
http://www.ipcs.org/article_details.php?articleNo=2198 (accessed July 8, 2009)12

9

N.S.Sisodia and GVC Naidu, eds., India-Japan Relations: Partnership for Peace andSecurity in Asia, New Delhi & Chicago: Promilla & Co., Publishers, Bibliophile South Asia &IDSA, 2006, pp.3-4.
10Report of IPCS Seminar “Towards India-Japan Strategic and Global Partnership” held at
the India International Centre on 10th January 2007, Article No. 2198 , 31 January 2007,
Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, New Delhi, available:
http://www.ipcs.org/article_details.php?articleNo=2198 (accessed July 8, 2009)11
Kapur, K.D., “India-Japan: Strategic Partnership in the Emerging Global Scenario” in
Panda R., and Yoo Fukazawa, eds., India and Japan In Search of Global Roles, New Delhi& Chicago: Promilla & Co., Publishers, Bibliophile South Asia, and Japan Foundation (NewDelhi), 2007, p.54.
12
Japan-India Partnership in a New Asian Era: Strategic Orientation of Japan-India Global
Partnership, available: http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/india/partner0504.html(accessed July, 2009)
13
Ibid.
14
"Confluence of the Two Seas", Speech by H.E.Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan at
the Parliament of the Republic of India, August 22, 2007 available: MOFA, Japan
homepage:http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/pmv0708/speech-2.html (accessed June29, 2009).
15“Japan-India partnership key to bolstering stability in Asia”, The Japan Times, Dec. 14,
2006, available: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi- bin/eo20061214bc.html (accessed July13, 2009)
16“Tokyo's nexus with India deepens”, Asia Times, October 25, 2008, available:
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Japan/JJ25Dh01.html (accessed July 13, 2009)
17
Ibid.
18
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Economy/India_China_Japan_must_hold_trilateral_strategic_dialogue/articleshow/2312068.cms (accessed January 2009)19
http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/27/stories/2007082755881300.htm (accessed July 5, 2009)20
Ichita Yamamoto (Ranking member, Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense, House ofCouncillors, Former State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Japan), “Security in Asia Pacificfrom the Japanese Perspective” in The 1st IISS (International Institute for Strategic
Studies)-Citi India Global Forum “India as a Rising Great Power: Challenges andOpportunities”, New Delhi, 18-20 April 2008. available: http://www.iiss.org/conferences/iissciti-india-global-forum/igf-plenary-sessions-2008/third-plenary-session-indias-defencediplomacy/third-plenary-session-ichita-yamamoto/ (accessed January 8, 2009)21
Feng Zhaokui, “China-Japan-India axis strategy”, People‟s Daily Online, April 30, 2004,
available:http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200404/29/eng20040429_141908.shtml(accessed January 2009)
22
Ibid.
23
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Economy/India_China_Japan_must_hold_trilateral_strategic_dialogue/articleshow/2312068.cms (accessed January 2009)24
Liu Xuecheng, “Bilateral cooperation among China, Japan and India more realistic”,
People‟s Daily Online, May 14, 2004, available:
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200405/14/eng20040514_143304.html (accessed July
10, 2009)
25
Interview of Dr.Manmohan Singh with Yomiuri Shimbun correspondents Kazuo Nagata
and Takashi Kikuchi, December 05, 2006, available: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fnews/1748610/posts#comment; accessed July 14, 2009);
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/world/20061205TDY01004.htm
26
Ibid.
27

Ibid.

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28

Marwah O., Pollack J., Military power and policy in Asian States: China, India, Japan.
Boulder, Colo. Westview Press, 1980. p.27.
29
Mansingh L., “India-Japan Relations”. IPCS Brief No.43. Institute of Peace and Conflict
Studies, New Delhi, India, January 2007.
30
Yasuhisa Shiozaki, opening remarks speech at the Symposium on Japan and India:
Challenges and Prospects in Asia and Pacific in the 21st century, Tokyo, 10th March 2006,
available: http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/india/sympo0603.pdf (accessed July 14,2009) p.4.
31
Patel N., “The Elephant and the Rising Sun: Alliance for the Future”, South Asia Analysis
Group, Paper no.2345, August 24, 2007, available:
http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/papers24/paper2345.html#_ftnref7132
Green, M., speech at the Symposium on Japan and India: Challenges and Prospects in
Asia and Pacific in the 21st century, Tokyo, 10th March 2006, available:
http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/india/sympo0603.pdf (accessed July 14, 2009),
p.47.

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