INDIA has invited Japan to invest in and build overland infrastructure in areas which are generally out of bounds for Chinese investments. The Northeast figures most prominently among them, as it is politically sensitive. China claims Arunachal Pradesh, at least its Dawang district, as its territory which has aggravated border tensions between India and China. Security agencies in India have also tracked Chinese weapons for the use of Northeastern militants. Although such militancy is on the wane, China remains a threat. The invitation to Japan to build infrastructure in the Northeast is a major step. In 2007, China opposed an ADB loan for development work in Arunachal Pradesh which it called a disputed territory. The Japanese were last in the Northeast during World War II.
Japanese companies have also been invited to develop a new port in Chennai to improve India’s sea route connectivity. China is always kept out of port development because that is part of India’s critical infrastructure. The Chennai port will link up with Dawei port in Myanmar which is being developed by Thailand. Japan and India have agreed to work together to promote infrastructure in third countries in the region and that will make them a counter to China. A trilateral dialogue between India, Japan and the US will develop a highway link between India, Myanmar and Thailand. These proposed measures are steps in the right direction. But it must be made clear that India is not doing all this to show its animosity against China.
