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Clearly, the destinies of India and Japan are linked better today. Experts need to balance their independence, expertise and pragmatism to evolve a consensus.
In every discussion on world politics from India's perspective, three countries mentioned most often are: Pakistan, China and the U.S. But, in recent years, our global view has been expanding as reflected in a sustained renewal of the relationship with Japan among several other countries. The growing proximity between India and Japan comes into focus not merely through G-to-G cooperation and B-to-B exchanges, but is also being enriched through interaction between strategic communities. They have the capability to reflect on highly sensitive issues and the freedom to develop a long-term vision.
Dialogue in Tokyo
An invitation to serve as a member of the Indian delegation to Indo-Japan Dialogue on Maritime Security Cooperation' afforded me the opportunity to learn about Japan's world view and its conception of relations with India in the context of the rise of China and the decline of American power. It was a serious dialogue involving former naval officers, diplomats, scholars, editors and opinion-makers with close connections to the two governments. It took place in Tokyo last month just before the visits to Japan by India's External Affairs Minster and Defence Minister and during the run-up to the Japanese Prime Minister's visit to India in December. The dialogue and related activities involved three think tanks two from Japan and one from India.
The standard story about Indian and Japanese speakers was related to me by a Japanese ambassador in Nairobi. The difference between the two, he said, is this: you cannot get an Indian to stop speaking, whereas you cannot get a Japanese to start speaking. For a change, however, our delegation listened amply to Japanese interlocutors even as it spoke eloquently on a range of issues encompassing the changing power balance in Asia, the role of oceans in shaping a country's foreign, defence and economic policy, developments in the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, and various components of maritime cooperation from security to shipping industry.
Japanese view
Today's Japan faces many anxieties including the challenge to cope with post-Fukushima issues concerning nuclear energy, political instability and economic stagnation. A major source of angst, however, is the steady increase in China's economic strength, military power and political assertiveness at a time when the U.S. economy is on the decline, thereby imposing new constraints on its military presence in East Asia. This results in the narrowing of Japan's strategic space. It is concerned not just about the safety of Sea Lines of Communications (SLOCs) and piracy off the Horn of Africa. It is even more anxious that the Asian power balance is changing to Japan's disadvantage.
Japan's place in Asia was a key question during the previous century. The country's journey was extraordinary as it traversed through the peaks of 1905 (when Japan defeated Russia), of 1930s (when Japan dominated China), of 1941 (when Pearl Harbour was attacked), and of 1940s (when Japan dealt body blows to the British Empire) to the all-time low of 1945 (when atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki turned Asia's superpower into America's satellite). The Cold War era created a security bubble in which Japanese prosperity happened. That era's end began Japan's angst which has now deepened considerably.
An interesting feature was that whereas younger Japanese speakers referred candidly to the threat from China and its offensiveness, the older ones were cautious in interpreting China's intentions, a caution blended with hope that after the current transitional phase ends, peace might prevail in East Asia. Both groups, however, agreed that Japan's military alliance with the U.S. would continue and that, within its framework, Japan should expand its cooperation with India. From this emanated support for former Prime Minister Abe's doctrine of confluence of two seas and synergy among maritime democracies in Asia, but the need to shift to specificity of cooperation was emphasised. The Japanese side disclosed that Prime Minster Noda was likely to propose the establishment of a multilateral forum on maritime security in near future.
Indian view
To many Indians conscious of Japan's rise since Commodore Perry forced open its doors to the world in 1853, Japan has been a fascinating mystery. Driven both by technology and faith, it is a unique society blending western orientation with an Asian soul. Japan's decline has coincided with India's economic growth and increase in geopolitical influence. Shared Asian identity and India's Look East Policy have brought the two countries closer. Factors such as China's rise and decline of the U.S. are highly relevant, but a calibrated view indicates that their impact might be getting somewhat exaggerated. Hence the Indian side suggested that India-Japan relationship should be strengthened on its own merits. Satisfaction was expressed over the progress achieved in the bilateral relationship in the past decade, but it was also underlined that cooperation relating to nuclear energy, dual technology, and infrastructure development, including ports, ship-building industry and maritime security, needed to be enhanced rapidly.
Regarding the changing power balance, Indian speakers pointed to the desirability of a multi-polar Asia. Strategic gap between China and India seemed to be increasing, which made India a relatively weaker pole on the global stage. This should encourage Japan to strengthen India. Closer strategic cooperation between the two would help alleviate Japan's angst vis-a-vis Beijing without endangering its policy of watchful engagement' with China. The imperative for Japan was to view India without the U.S. prism.' Japan's preference for the hub and spokes approach' (with the U.S. as the hub) needs to be reinforced by the spokes (such as Japan and India) networking' with each other more closely. The role of India-Japan cooperation was cited as a determinant in moulding the present century as the Asian century.' Asia might mould the 21st century through its leadership if peace, not conflict, remains the leitmotif and if it encompasses Africa in its trajectory.
Specifically on maritime security, experts agreed that more cooperation was essential. On tackling piracy from both land and sea,' the Japanese side suggested that India should come forward with new initiatives.' On the issue of joint naval exercises, it was noted that the two countries already had a trilateral framework involving them and the U.S. Indian experts showed a marked preference for bilateral exercises. The Japanese response was one of limited receptiveness. Recent ministerial-level discussions in Tokyo are likely to turn this receptiveness into agreement and action.
Both convergence and divergence marked our dialogue. When its previous edition took place during 2003-06, the context was different and the approach rather limited. Now the mood was bolder, more ambitious but tinged with geopolitical realism. Maritime challenges in the region from Suez to the Sea of Japan' and possible cooperation in Africa, South Asia and Indo-China received attention. Clearly, the destinies of India and Japan are linked better today. Experts will have to reflect and interact more before crafting a consensus view. They need to balance their independence, imagination, expertise and pragmatism. And they must persevere.
A postscript for South Block: much interest was expressed in a state visit by the Indian President to Japan. It will certainly help the relationship, considering the last visit took place a long time ago.
The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : Growing proximity between India & Japan
In every discussion on world politics from India's perspective, three countries mentioned most often are: Pakistan, China and the U.S. But, in recent years, our global view has been expanding as reflected in a sustained renewal of the relationship with Japan among several other countries. The growing proximity between India and Japan comes into focus not merely through G-to-G cooperation and B-to-B exchanges, but is also being enriched through interaction between strategic communities. They have the capability to reflect on highly sensitive issues and the freedom to develop a long-term vision.
Dialogue in Tokyo
An invitation to serve as a member of the Indian delegation to Indo-Japan Dialogue on Maritime Security Cooperation' afforded me the opportunity to learn about Japan's world view and its conception of relations with India in the context of the rise of China and the decline of American power. It was a serious dialogue involving former naval officers, diplomats, scholars, editors and opinion-makers with close connections to the two governments. It took place in Tokyo last month just before the visits to Japan by India's External Affairs Minster and Defence Minister and during the run-up to the Japanese Prime Minister's visit to India in December. The dialogue and related activities involved three think tanks two from Japan and one from India.
The standard story about Indian and Japanese speakers was related to me by a Japanese ambassador in Nairobi. The difference between the two, he said, is this: you cannot get an Indian to stop speaking, whereas you cannot get a Japanese to start speaking. For a change, however, our delegation listened amply to Japanese interlocutors even as it spoke eloquently on a range of issues encompassing the changing power balance in Asia, the role of oceans in shaping a country's foreign, defence and economic policy, developments in the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, and various components of maritime cooperation from security to shipping industry.
Japanese view
Today's Japan faces many anxieties including the challenge to cope with post-Fukushima issues concerning nuclear energy, political instability and economic stagnation. A major source of angst, however, is the steady increase in China's economic strength, military power and political assertiveness at a time when the U.S. economy is on the decline, thereby imposing new constraints on its military presence in East Asia. This results in the narrowing of Japan's strategic space. It is concerned not just about the safety of Sea Lines of Communications (SLOCs) and piracy off the Horn of Africa. It is even more anxious that the Asian power balance is changing to Japan's disadvantage.
Japan's place in Asia was a key question during the previous century. The country's journey was extraordinary as it traversed through the peaks of 1905 (when Japan defeated Russia), of 1930s (when Japan dominated China), of 1941 (when Pearl Harbour was attacked), and of 1940s (when Japan dealt body blows to the British Empire) to the all-time low of 1945 (when atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki turned Asia's superpower into America's satellite). The Cold War era created a security bubble in which Japanese prosperity happened. That era's end began Japan's angst which has now deepened considerably.
An interesting feature was that whereas younger Japanese speakers referred candidly to the threat from China and its offensiveness, the older ones were cautious in interpreting China's intentions, a caution blended with hope that after the current transitional phase ends, peace might prevail in East Asia. Both groups, however, agreed that Japan's military alliance with the U.S. would continue and that, within its framework, Japan should expand its cooperation with India. From this emanated support for former Prime Minister Abe's doctrine of confluence of two seas and synergy among maritime democracies in Asia, but the need to shift to specificity of cooperation was emphasised. The Japanese side disclosed that Prime Minster Noda was likely to propose the establishment of a multilateral forum on maritime security in near future.
Indian view
To many Indians conscious of Japan's rise since Commodore Perry forced open its doors to the world in 1853, Japan has been a fascinating mystery. Driven both by technology and faith, it is a unique society blending western orientation with an Asian soul. Japan's decline has coincided with India's economic growth and increase in geopolitical influence. Shared Asian identity and India's Look East Policy have brought the two countries closer. Factors such as China's rise and decline of the U.S. are highly relevant, but a calibrated view indicates that their impact might be getting somewhat exaggerated. Hence the Indian side suggested that India-Japan relationship should be strengthened on its own merits. Satisfaction was expressed over the progress achieved in the bilateral relationship in the past decade, but it was also underlined that cooperation relating to nuclear energy, dual technology, and infrastructure development, including ports, ship-building industry and maritime security, needed to be enhanced rapidly.
Regarding the changing power balance, Indian speakers pointed to the desirability of a multi-polar Asia. Strategic gap between China and India seemed to be increasing, which made India a relatively weaker pole on the global stage. This should encourage Japan to strengthen India. Closer strategic cooperation between the two would help alleviate Japan's angst vis-a-vis Beijing without endangering its policy of watchful engagement' with China. The imperative for Japan was to view India without the U.S. prism.' Japan's preference for the hub and spokes approach' (with the U.S. as the hub) needs to be reinforced by the spokes (such as Japan and India) networking' with each other more closely. The role of India-Japan cooperation was cited as a determinant in moulding the present century as the Asian century.' Asia might mould the 21st century through its leadership if peace, not conflict, remains the leitmotif and if it encompasses Africa in its trajectory.
Specifically on maritime security, experts agreed that more cooperation was essential. On tackling piracy from both land and sea,' the Japanese side suggested that India should come forward with new initiatives.' On the issue of joint naval exercises, it was noted that the two countries already had a trilateral framework involving them and the U.S. Indian experts showed a marked preference for bilateral exercises. The Japanese response was one of limited receptiveness. Recent ministerial-level discussions in Tokyo are likely to turn this receptiveness into agreement and action.
Both convergence and divergence marked our dialogue. When its previous edition took place during 2003-06, the context was different and the approach rather limited. Now the mood was bolder, more ambitious but tinged with geopolitical realism. Maritime challenges in the region from Suez to the Sea of Japan' and possible cooperation in Africa, South Asia and Indo-China received attention. Clearly, the destinies of India and Japan are linked better today. Experts will have to reflect and interact more before crafting a consensus view. They need to balance their independence, imagination, expertise and pragmatism. And they must persevere.
A postscript for South Block: much interest was expressed in a state visit by the Indian President to Japan. It will certainly help the relationship, considering the last visit took place a long time ago.
The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : Growing proximity between India & Japan
