"CCEAC Commmentary" introduces neews analysess andoppinions in JapanJon topics relaated to reg
gionalcoooperation andaintegration in East A
Asia, but they donoot represent the views off CEAC as ann institution.

August 21, 2012

Strrengtheening Securit
Sty Netw
works betweeen Japan,
thee Uniteed Statees, Ausstralia and In
ndia
By IISHIGAKKI Yasujji
China’ss military build-up anand maritim
me expansio
on are cauusing directt andghboring coountries andd are leading those couuntries to chhange
indirrect impactss on its neig
their approaches to the situuations. Ass widely kn
nown, the reelationshipss between China
CAN countriees are tensinng up over th
he islands inn disputed w
waters across theand ssome ASEASouthh China Sea. Howev
ver, it is allso worth notingnthat the Unitedd States, Japan,
J
Austtralia and Inndia are exp
panding andd strengtheniing their collaboration on joint miilitary
drillss in additioon to develo
oping closee mutual seecurity dialoogues. Japaan and Ausstralia
have long deveeloped bilatteral alliancces with th
he United States.
SIn rrecent yearss, thesecurrity dialoguues betweenn these threee countries have been becomingg closer annd thefourtth ministeriial meeting of the Trillateral Strattegic Dialog
gue was heeld in Septeember
20099. In additioon, Japan annd the Uniteed States haad the first high-rankinng working level
meetting on com
mmon issuees includingg national security wiith India inn Washington in
Deceember 20111 and also had
h the seccond meetin
ng in Tokyo in April 2012. The third
meetting is expeccted to be held
h in Indiaa.
U.S. Defense Secrretary Leonn Panetta vissited India on June 6 tthis year to meet
MA.K
K. Antony. A
After the meeeting, Paneetta delivere
red a speechh on awith Defense Minister
Pacific defeense strategyy in New Delhi,
Dstating
g that “the UU.S. will exxpand
new U.S. Asia-P
its m
military partnnerships and its presennce in the arrc extending
g from Eastt Asia into South
SAsia. Our defennse cooperaation with IIndia is onee of the lincchpins in thhis strategyy.” He
confi
firmed the U.S.
U policy of strengthhening its defense
dtiess with Indiaa and Indiaa alsomadee clear the intention of further deeveloping itts military modernizattion based ono its
strenngthening thhe relationsh
hip with thee U.S.
In addiition, on Jun
ne 9, the Jaapanese Maaritime Selff-Defense FForces cond
ductedits fiirst joint miilitary exerccise with thhe Indian Navy
Nin the Sagami Baay, Japan. In
n thisdrill,, four vesssels includiing the Inddian Navy’’s escort ship and thhe MSDF’ss twodestroyers and helicopters were deployed and formation drills and search and rescue
exercises were carried out. These exercises were based on the agreement on conducting
joint drills, which had been made in November 2011 at the bilateral defense ministers
meeting, in line with the Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation between Japan andIndia, which had been announced in 2008. Masahiko Sugimoto, MSDF Chief of Staff,
stated in a press conference on June 5, “The drills are intended to develop tactical skills
and also to promote our friendships with the Indian Navy. It will contribute tostabilizing the Asia-Pacific region.” Meanwhile, Rear Admiral Ajit Kumar, Flag Officer
Commanding Eastern Fleet, reportedly said to the press, “Our collaboration through theexercise with the Japanese MSDF is significant with a view to defending maritime
transportation routes and addressing piracy issues.”
The security cooperation between Japan, the United States and Australia has
beenrobust on the basis of alliances. In the meantime, India’s commitment to theJapan-U.S. security dialogue and joint military exercise may seem to be linked withIndia’s intention to secure its own national interests. There is no doubt, however, thatbehind this move are in part India’s strategic intention to cope with the recent expanding
Chinese Naval activities into broader areas including the Indian Ocean.
(This is an English translation of the article written by Mr. ISHIGAKI Yasuji,
Delegate for Japan to AALCO, as his personal view which originally appeared on
the BBS “Hyakka-Somei” of CEAC on June 10, 2012).