Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will be the chief guest of the 65th Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi. It will be an occasion to promote bilateral relations between India and Japan. Global developments have brought the two countries closer. The Japanese Emperor and Empress recently visited India. It was a landmark event. The two countries have many shared interests and there is scope for great cooperation between the two in manufacturing, IT, defence and education. The recent cordiality between India and Japan is due to two factors. China is becoming increasingly assertive. In this context, the return to office of Shinzo Abe, a friend of India, takes on considerable significance. The friendship relates to territorial disputes along Japan’s borders. Abe is firm on combating Beijing’s assertiveness. Ergo, it appears capital-rich Japan will be looking to markets other than China. India with its young population is seeking aid and collaboration in infrastructure and is eyeing Japanese investments. Abe’s visit should set the stage for putting new infrastructure projects in place such as the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor in which Japan can play a major part.
Both countries are focused on expanding cooperation in maritime security, counter-terrorism and anti-piracy operations. Japan has relaxed its ban on defence exports and India is a potential buyer. It means that the two countries should accentuate the need for a strategic partnership. To New Delhi’s Look East policy should be added countries such as Taiwan, South Korea and Japan. India should however take guarded steps so that unnecessary stand-offs with China are avoided to the maximum extent.
