Daily Times

Japan and India enjoy warm and cordial relations. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1952, their bilateral ties have thrived with the passage of time. More convergence and less divergence have never caused tension between the two countries.

There are various reasons for closeness between Japan and India. Firstly, Buddhism is important religion in Japan. It reached there from the subcontinent in the 6th century BC. The United Kingdom partitioned the subcontinent in August 1947, and Pakistan and India emerged as independent countries.

Secondly, during the World War-II, Japan conquered Burma and reached near Calcutta. Subhash Chandra Bose, Hindu nationalist leader of All India National Congress and other Hindu leaders, wanted to support the Japanese to invade the subcontinent for ousting the British rule. They translated emergence of Japan as power as the resurgence of Asian power.

Thirdly, Japan had economic relations with the subcontinent before its partition. Finally, Silk Road was single international highway which connected the subcontinent and Japan. Thus, the citizens of both the countries came into contact with each other.

In international relations, a foe of a friend may be a friend. Moreover, a friend of a friend may be a foe. The relations of both the countries have partially accepted the influence of these sayings. There is a row between China and Japan on Sensaku islands in the East China Sea. India and China fought a war in 1962 and still, there are strains in their relations. This enmity of India and Japan with China has brought both the countries close to each other. It is in the interest of both the countries to unite hands to face Chinese danger to their interests.

There are convergences and divergences in bilateral relations of both the countries. However, convergence overlaps divergence and latter has not left a negative impact on friendly and cordial relations between India and Japan. Firstly, the convergence is differences of both the countries with China. Secondly, India and Japan are desirous of having permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council. When discussion started for reforming the United Nations, both the countries formed a group with Brazil and Germany to get permanent membership of the apex council of the world body. Thirdly, India has a population of about one billion. It is the largest consumption market for Japanese commodities and goods. Japan may not afford to lose such big market as it has already lost its status of world No 2 economy to No 3 economies.

Fourthly, Bay of Bengal lies on the East of India. Japan initiated Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt in 2014. It is aimed at strengthening maritime surveillance and protect interests of Japan in the Indian Ocean particularly in the Bay of Bengal. It connects South Asia with South East Asia. India may help Japan in its BG-BI initiative.

Fifthly, Japan is deficient in natural resources but self-sufficient in human resource. Japan’s development is mainly based on the mobilisation of the human power. India has a big population with fewer employment opportunities. The Japanese model of the human resource may help India to create more employment opportunities and channelise it for its development.

Sixthly, the Japanese technology is also important for the technological development of India.

Seventhly, Japan has invested billions of US dollars in India in different sectors. Several Japanese companies are doing business in India. It helps Japan to earn foreign exchange. The operation of the Japanese companies in India has provided employment opportunities to Indian people. Thus, the cordial and warm relations are in the interests of both the countries.

Eighthly, India has interests in South East Asia. Japan also wants to protect its interests in the region. This correlation of interests necessitates close cooperation between the two countries.

Ninthly, during the cold war period, the former Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan and landed its forces in December 1979. Japan and India condemned the invasion. In the post-cold war period, after 9/11 incident, the US and its allies entered Afghanistan under the flag of International Security Assistance Force. India is also assisting Afghanistan. Japan started extending assistance since 2002. Indian-Japanese assistance to Afghanistan is aimed at protecting their interests as it is the gateway to Central Asia.

Tenthly, China’s increasing influence in the region of Central Asia may endanger the interests of both the countries in jeopardy. They want to contain China there.

Eleventh, Japan is ally of the United States. India is also close to the US. After China’s CPEC vision, clear alignment of the countries has emerged in the region of South Asia. China, Russia and Pakistan on the one side and the US, Japan and India on the other. Though Japan wants to cooperate in CPEC, simultaneously, it wants to protect the trade and business interests in the region.

Twelfthly, Japan imports oil from the Persian Gulf countries. The Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean provides sea routes for sailing smooth oil and other supply to Japan. It may not afford adverse relations with the countries located around these sea routes. India is also an important country.

Thirteenthly, the population of the region of South Asia is more than 1.5 billion. It provides huge consumption market of the Japanese goods. Thus, Japan wants to maintain its relations with the countries of the region.

Fourteenth, South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is non-political socio-economic and cultural organisation. The countries having interests in the region of South Asia take interest in the organisation. Japan, the US, Russia and China have the status of observer in the organisation.

Fifteenth, India possesses expertise in the development of software technology. Japan wants to take benefit from it. Lastly, according to one report, Indian citizens has established more than 300 schools in Japan. The children of Indians settled or working in Japan are getting an education in these schools. Moreover, the Japanese students get admission in the Indian schools to learn English.

Japan and India also have divergences in their bilateral relations. Firstly, China’s initiative of One Belt One Road is aimed at the revival of old land and maritime Silk Road which connected Asia, Africa and Europe. Certainly, the initiative has strategic implications. Japan and India are already against increasing influence of China. Thus, the new Chinese initiative had to face the opposition of both the countries. In the beginning, Japan expressed its reservations on the OBOR-CPEC initiative. However, in June 2017, Japan announced to cooperate on the initiative. However, India has opposed the idea.

It signed an agreement with Iran to develop Chabahar seaport parallel to Gwadar seaport. However, this divergence may not affect warm and close relations between India and Japan due to various factors including the importance of geo-economics in international affairs. Secondly, the nuclear arms race in the region of South Asia is worrisome for Japan. Being the only victim of nuclear catastrophe, Japan renounced nuclear programme except for peaceful purposes.

The success of the cooperation between Japan and India is based on resolving territorial disputes in the region and aggressive designs of India

Nuclear reactors are the primary source of the production of electricity in Japan. When India undertook nuclear explosions in May 1998, Japan condemned it. In response to India, Pakistan also went for nuclear explosion in May 1998 to neutralise the shifting of power balance in India and create deterrence in the region of South Asia. Japan also condemned it. Lastly, due to the nuclear explosions undertaken by India and Pakistan and tension between the two nuclear powers, Japan feels fear of eruption of war between the two countries. The problem of Kashmir is the main bone of contention between India and Pakistan. Thus, Japan held Kashmir as a flashpoint.

Japan signed Friendship and Security Treaty with the United States in 1952. Japan and India established formal diplomatic relations in the same year. But before signing Japan-US Treaty, in 1951, San Francisco Peace Treaty was concluded. For this purpose, the countries including India were invited to participate in the deliberations of the treaty. More than 50 countries attended the conference; however, 48 countries signed the treaty. India rejected the invitation.

According to Working Paper No78 dated June 2002 of Japan Policy Research Institute, India’s refusal based on the four points, ie “(1) It considered that the provisions giving the US control of Okinawa and the adjacent Bonin Islands (also known as the Ogasawaras) were not justifiable. (2) The military provisions of the treaty (and the security treaty to be signed with it) should only be concluded after Japan became fully independent. (3) Formosa (Taiwan) should be returned to China at once. And (4) India objected to the fact that the peace treaty deliberations to be held in San Francisco would not allow for negotiation of the treaty.”

The contacts between the subcontinent and Japan came into existence when Buddhism found its way to latter in the 6th century BC. According to one account, Indian monk Bodhisena performed the eye-opening ceremony of the statue of Buddha in Todaiji temple Nara. Commercial and business contacts established between Japan and the subcontinent when some people arrived in the 1870s. During the first world war, the Europeans goods and commodities failed to meet the requirements of the subcontinent. The Japanese products fill the gap. In 1903, the Japan-India Association was founded which is considered as the oldest international friendship association in Japan. Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Indian premier, donated an elephant to Ueno Zoo, Tokyo in 1949. After the establishment of formal relations, both the countries enjoyed political, economic, cultural and strategic relations.

Japan and India have signed a number of mutual treaties. These include the Treaty of Peace, 1952; Agreement for Air Service, 1956, Cultural Agreement, 1957; Agreement of Commerce, 1958; Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation, 1960; Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Science and Technology, 1985; and Japan-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement which include goods, services, movement of natural persons, custom procedures, investments and intellectual properties, 2011.

Further agreements signed between the two countries include Agreement between Japan and the Republic of India on Social Security, 2011; Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Republic of India Concerning the Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology, 2012; Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Republic of India Concerning Security Measures for the Protection of Classified Military Information 2015; Agreement between Japan and the Republic of India on Social Security, 2015; and Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Republic of India for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, 2016.

Nobusuke Kishi was the first Japanese prime minister who visited India in 1957. It followed the beginning of Japanese Yen loan to India. Economic assistance to India included loans, grants and technical assistance. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan, Japanese economic assistance to Japan in the financial year 2016 included 371.35 billion yen on account of the loan, 0.11 billion yen as grants and 15.95 billion yen as technical cooperation.

Jawaharlal Nehru paid ten days long visit to Japan along with his daughter and ex-Indian premier Indra Gandhi. In a reception held in the honour of visiting Indian premier at Tokyo, around 100 Indians residing in Japan participated. According to data from MOFA, 31,025 Indian nationals were residing in Japan by December 2016. The number of Japanese nationals residing in India by the same period was 9,147.

Both the countries have thriving trade and investment relations. Japan has invested in public and private sectors. It intends to raise its investment to 35 billion US dollars in next five years in both the sectors. Japanese companies have also invested billions of dollars in India. Japan is the third largest foreign investor in India. Japanese Bank for International Cooperation conducted a survey in 2014 for assessing business sentiments. The survey held India as a first investment destination of Japanese companies followed by Indonesia and China. Around 1305 Japanese companies have branches in India.

The survey further disclosed that the Foreign Direct Investment reached 618 million US dollars from June to September 2014, whereas it stood at 213 million US dollars for the corresponding period, thus, an increase of 405 million USD. According to figures of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japanese FDI in India stood at 465 billion yen by 2016. In the financial year 2016-17, Japanese FDI in India was 4.7 billion USD. Japanese cumulative investment from 2000 to 2017 was more than 25 billion USD.

Japan and India enjoy good trade relations. The trade from India to Japan stood at 509 billion yen by 2016. Japan exported commodities/goods worth of 889 yen billion to India for the same period. Japan’s MOFA shows a balance of trade in favour of Japan. In the financial year 2016-17, this trade reached more than 13 billion USD. The main items being exported from India to Japan include agricultural products, fresh fruits and dried fruits, vegetables, oilseeds, vegetable oils and fats, sugar and honey, wheat, coffee, tea, tobacco, leather garments and good, carpets, cotton, animal feed and grains and pulses etc. Japan exports cars, vehicle parts, passenger and cargo ships and integrated circuits to India.

India wants to emerge as a power of Asia. The main hurdle in its dream is China. Japan has territorial disputes with China. Thus, Japan and India formed a natural alliance in Asia continent. During the second world war, when Japan was making advancement against the allied powers in Asia, All India National Congress looked at Japan’s resurgence as an Asian power with appreciation. However, India-Japan relations and cooperation are not limited to the region of South Asia, but it has global dimensions. The Japanese Prime Minister Mori paid a visit to South Asian countries in 2000. The countries decided to establish a global partnership. The relationship was converted into ‘Global and Strategic Partnership’ in 2006.

Japan and India attended new horizons of their relationship in the post-2013 period. Political and economic changes took place in the region of South Asia and around China’s various initiatives to consolidate its interests and position.

The Indian premier Narendra Modi is making efforts to have the status of India as an undisputed country across the world. He is aimed at having cordial relations with Muslim and non-Muslim countries. His such efforts are due to various reasons.

Firstly, India is in search of finding an opportunity to equal scores of defeat with China in 1962. For this purpose, India wants to muster the support of the world powers and emerge as an economic giant to improve its bargaining position vis-à-vis China.

Secondly, India’s pursuit of Akhand Bharat has also compelled it to make efforts of partnership on a regional basis. But it may not reap full fruits of its friendship with the global political and economic powers unless it solves its problems with the countries located in the region of South Asia.

Thirdly, Modi paid state visits to Israel and held a summit meeting with his Israeli counterpart in January 2018. He was the first Indian premier who visited Israel in the same month. Israeli premier visited India in 2018. He was also the first Israeli premier to visit India. In February 2018, Modi visited Palestine. Modi’s such diplomacy has clearly indicated that India wants to have a friendship with all the countries and internal disputes between the countries is not its problem.

Fourthly, India wants to divert the attention of the world from its disputes with the neighbouring and regional countries and the violation of human rights inside and outside India. It is facing secessionist movements. It has failed to reconcile the sentiments of Kashmiris.

Fifthly, the large number of the population may not be accommodated by the local economy of India. Having normal relations with the countries, it may open earning opportunities for the citizens of India abroad. Sixthly, as stated somewhere else in these paragraphs that India is desirous of getting a permanent seat at the UN Security Council. Thus, it needs the support of the countries in the world body.

Lastly, Modi’s diplomacy is aimed at projecting the picture of India as a peaceful country at international level. But the extremism and Indian policies against the minorities is one of the biggest hurdles in this regard.

At the India-Japan summit meeting in 2014, the relationship of both the countries was converted into Special Strategic and Global Partnership. The premiers of the two countries announced, on the summit meeting held in December 2015, ‘Japan and India Vision 2025 Special Strategic and Global Partnership Working Together for Peace and Prosperity of the Indo-Pacific Region and the World’. It was called the beginning of new era of friendship between the two countries.

India and Japan want Smooth and Safe Sailing of Ships (SSSS) in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Both want to enforce and maintain the maritime rule of law. It may ensure every country’s interests in these two Oceans protected. Both the countries agreed to expand anti-submarine warfare training exercises. Trilateral naval exercises of Japan, India and the United States were held in the Bay of Bengal in 2017. It was the continuation of Malabar series of naval exercise first began in 1992.

The United States, Japan and India have common interest and goals in the region of South Asia and in the two Oceans. They want to contain expansion and advancement of Chinese sphere of influence.

Japan and India are making endeavours to achieve their interests in the continents beyond Asia. Both are working on Asia-Africa Growth Corridor. Japan is also making efforts on three areas in Africa. These include Nacala corridor, West Africa and Northern corridor. Japan’s Africa policy is based on resource and economic diplomacy.

The success of the cooperation between Japan and India is based on resolving territorial disputes in the region of South Asia and aggressive designs of India. Moreover, both the countries may not contain China’s expansionist policies unless understanding and trust are developed between them despite their territorial or other disputes. The US may not go to cross all limits for the sake of interests of India and Japan. Thus, both may not depend much on the US.

The writer is an author and has a doctorate in Political Science

Published in Daily Times, April 20^th 2018.