Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s Japan visit is set to break new grounds in bilateral relations. The two countries have much to gain from mutual co-operation. Recently a high profile trade delegation from India and the US met in Tokyo. It appears that the growing economic clout of China and its belligerence in dealing with neighbours and other Asian countries is putting them on notice. The US has invested heavily in the manufacturing industries of China. Pulling out at this juncture is likely to hurt will the US more than it would China. But the US is also exploring new economic partnerships with other countries in Asia, as a diplomatic move. The Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is said to have sent very positive signals to the Indian and US trade delegation for greater economic cooperation with special focus on manufacturing.
Prime ministerial visits to different countries are not just courtesy calls. They also signal much more than attempts at building trade ties. Both India and Japan are victims of China’s territorial expansion plans. Both recognise that the Dragon is capable of inflicting damage unless they team up to meet these exigencies. Hence the Prime Minister’s visit to Japan is meant to convey a message that China cannot take its neighbours for granted. On Tuesday Dr Manmohan Singh spoke about sharing maritime technology amongst other things. India has invited Japan to hold military exercises in the Indian Ocean in a bid to strengthen defence co-operation. Japan on its part spoke of exporting its high-speed rail technology to India. Covering a distance of 1,400 km (870 miles) between Delhi and Mumbai in eight hours by train could well become a reality if India were to adopt Japan’s high-speed rail technology. Dr Singh’s visit comes right after the Chinese premier Le Keqiang’s visit to India with a high profile business delegation where a host of trade proposals were presented. Trade between the two countries is heavily loaded in favour of China. Many Chinese products are dumped into the Indian markets through the informal trade sector. This has destroyed much of our indigenous manufacturing industries. But India has been on the back-foot and unable to counter these trade malpractices. Hence the method adopted is to befriend Japan which is also China’s traditional rival. These are indicators of a new diplomatic arrangement to checkmate the growing assertiveness of China in the region particularly the Indian Ocean.