-- By Anil Bhat                      

In his latest book, Beautiful Country, Japan’s new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe singles India out for special treatment, viewing it as a new partner in the world of Asian democratic diplomacy. He recalls India’s respect for Japan as the first Asian nation to defeat a western power (in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05), and cites Indian opinion polls that consistently list Japan as a country with which Indians have the most affinity. Abe is somewhat apologetic that India’s affection for Japan has been unrequited, until recently. He said that he “would not be surprised if Japan-India relations in a decade’s time were more important than Japan-US or Japan-China ties.”

India’s relations with Japan had come under quite a strain following the former’s second nuclear test in 1998. 9/11, however, became a major factor for initiating the process of improvement of relations between the two nations. India’s experience in anti-terrorism and its maritime management of one of the world’s most important sea lanes of communication became catalysts in this process.

Maritime cooperation between India and Japan has been on for a few years, particularly between the Indian Coast Guard and its Japanese counterpart. The sea lanes of communication from Japan to the Gulf, which are the ‘energy highway’, are vital to Japan and Asian countries. The Ship Ocean Foundation (SOF) of Japan, therefore, initiated an ‘extraordinary continuing Indo-Japan Dialogue’ with the Society for Indian Ocean Studies (SIOS) India. The four dialogue meetings—two at Tokyo and two at Delhi with visits to Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata—covered a spectrum of major issues ranging from the security of sea lanes threatened by terrorism and piracy, safety of ships and sailors, ocean governance, marine traffic, safety of offshore structures, energy and environmental security, as also the enlarging ocean-based industries. The Ocean Policy Research Foundation (OPRF) of SOF is, in addition, carrying out studies in maritime education project, Marine Electronics Highway (MEH) and citizen participation in coastal zone management. In a keynote address during the Indo-Japan Dialogue on ‘Ocean Security and Maritime Cooperation’, on 14 December 2005, organised by the Society for Indian Ocean Studies, then Indian Defence Minister now Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee stated that bilateral cooperation between India and Japan was increasing by way of regional forums, seminars and multilateral contacts. “We are engaged with Japan at various regional security conferences organised by various institutions. The first Comprehensive Security Dialogue and Military to Military talks was held in July 2001, which was followed by second round of in February 2004. This was supplemented by exchange of visits by senior service officers in 2004. The initiative by the Society for Indian Ocean Studies for the second Indo-Japan Dialogue is “certain to cement our ties further and we are committed towards enhanced maritime cooperation with Japan,” he said. Japanese Ambassador Yasukuni Enoki, also invited for the 14 December 2005 dialogue, stated that Japan looks forward to greater multi-faceted cooperation with India and hopes for a higher and wider response from India. Although in a lighter vein, the Japanese Ambassador took a dig at a smiling Mukherjee, he effectively conveyed the point.

The year 2006, as such, marked the step-up. Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Taro Aso, accompanied by a high-level delegation, paid an official visit to India on 03 January 2006. India is the first Asian country Foreign Minister Aso visited for bilateral consultations. He held delegation-level talks with the Indian Minister of State for External Affairs, E. Ahamed; had meetings with the Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry, Kamal Nath; and India’s National Security Adviser, M.K. Narayanan; and called on the Indian President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

During his talks with Ahmed, the two ministers made a positive assessment of the then status of bilateral relations and noted with satisfaction that the global partnership between India and Japan had acquired new dynamism and momentum, especially since the landmark visit of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to India in April 2005. They reiterated the principles and understandings contained in the Joint Statement signed by the prime ministers in New Delhi on 29 April 2005, and agreed on the following to further promote the global partnership from a strategic perspective:

• High-level visits, from the two prime ministers to regular ministerial-level exchanges, including between Foreign, Defence, Finance, Trade, and ICT Ministers, will continue.

• Strategic Dialogue: Recalling that during Prime Minister Koizumi’s visit to India, when the two prime ministers had decided to enhance the strategic focus of the India-Japan Global Partnership, the ministers agreed to conduct henceforth foreign minister-level talks with a strategic perspective. Foreign Minister Aso invited the Indian Minister of External Affairs to visit Japan for such talks. The existing Foreign Office Consultations at the secretary/deputy minister-level would be utilized to prepare for the foreign minister-level dialogue. The high-level strategic dialogue, agreed upon during Koizumi’s visit, would also be operationalised.

• CEPA/EPA: The two sides agreed to earnestly consider the possibility of a comprehensive economic partnership agreement in the context of the ongoing work of the India-Japan Joint Study Group, which was expected to submit its report by June 2006.

• ICT Cooperation: Noting the positive outcome of the first ICT Forum held in New Delhi in August 2005, the two sides agreed that the immense potential for cooperation in this sector should be fully tapped, including through early meetings of the working groups of the Forum.

• Cooperation in Energy: The Indian side expressed its appreciation for Japan’s support for India’s participation in ITER. The two sides agreed to step up cooperation in the energy sector, including through timely implementation of the Plan of Action agreed upon between the Indian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry in Tokyo on 29 September 2005.

• Science and Technology Initiative: The two sides agreed to hold joint workshops to identify collaboration projects to be undertaken as part of the Science and Technology Initiative announced by the two prime ministers in April 2005. The relevant modalities in this regard would be finalised through mutual consultations, in pursuance of the discussions held in the 7th Meeting of the India-Japan Joint Committee on Science and Technology in New Delhi in November 2005.

• ODA: Foreign Minister Aso conveyed that India will remain the largest recipient of the Japanese ODA loan in the current fiscal year for the third consecutive year. The Indian side expressed its appreciation for the Japanese assistance.

• Freight Corridors Project: In pursuance of the understanding reached during Prime Minister Koizumi’s visit regarding dedicated multimodal freight corridors with computerized train control system on Mumbai-Delhi and Delhi-Howrah routes, the two sides agreed, through an exchange of notes, that the feasibility study survey for the project will be carried out by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

• Human Exchanges: Foreign Minister Aso conveyed the decision of the Japanese side to launch the Aso Programme, which will involve exchange of 4000 persons over the next three years in the fields of Japanese language, technology, youth interaction, etc., with Japanese funding and support. The India side expressed its appreciation for this initiative, which will promote people-to-people contacts. The two sides also agreed to encourage further exchanges at local levels.

• Visas: Noting the progress in the relaxation of visa procedures, including through issuance of multiple-entry visas valid for three years to Indian businessmen, the ministers directed that consultations be held at an early date to consider further facilitation of visa procedures.

• Security Dialogue and Cooperation: The Ministers agreed to further strengthen dialogue and exchanges between the two countries in the security and defence fields. The Indian defence minister is expected to pay an official visit to Japan later this year. The visit will be preceded by the next round of Comprehensive Security Dialogue and Military-to-Military Talks.

• Disarmament and Non-Proliferation: The ministers agreed to launch a joint secretary/director general-level annual dialogue on disarmament and non-proliferation, with the objective of promoting commonalities and enlarging areas of convergence for mutual cooperation in a constructive manner, thereby contributing to the advancement of overall bilateral relations. This dialogue will also address the issues relating to high technology trade.

• East Asia Summit: Noting the positive outcome of the first EAS, the ministers agreed that the EAS should play a significant role in the progressive realisation of the vision of an East Asian community. India and Japan will continue their close consultation and cooperation in this regard.

• UN Reforms: The Ministers reaffirmed the need for urgent and comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including the reform and expansion of the UN Security Council, in both permanent and non-permanent categories, which is central to the UN reform process, within the current session of the UN General Assembly. They reiterated that the coming together of the G-4 (India, Japan, Brazil and Germany) has been a significant development, and that the G-4, in their consultations, are seeking to garner as much support as possible from other member states in order to realize the reform of the Security Council.

General Tsutomu Mori, Chief of Staff, Ground Self Defence Force of Japan, who visited India on 05 March 2006, met the then Indian Defence Minister now Foreign Minister, Pranab Mukherjee; the Indian Army Chief, General, J J Singh; the Indian Naval Chief, Admiral Arun Prakash; and the Indian Air Chief, Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi; and the Director of the United Service Institution (USI), Lieutenant General (retd) Satish Nambiar, who also took him to the Centre for United Nations Peace Keeping, which is part of the USI. He toured Jammu & Kashmir, visiting Headquarters, Northern Command, at Udhampur, Srinagar, and a part of the Line of Control between India and Pakistan.

Last—only in this feature—but certainly not the least, India, as the land of Buddha, has always been a favourite destination for Japanese tourists, who welcome sights in many parts of India. There is some substantial technology-sharing and assistance by Japan in design and construction of bridges and metro-railways. Golf lovers from Japan consider it very reasonable to fly to India for a weekend for improving their swing in the gradually increasing number of golf courses in the Delhi region at least. Suzuki is one of the household names in India for its association with Maruti, which marked the advent of the smart-car era. Photography and related products too have been around, as those mentioned, for decades and still going strong.

Abe’s term is expected to mark a change in the status of Japan’s Self Defence Forces to full-fledged armed forces, or at least the initiation of the process towards that aim.