Today, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida began a 27-hour visit to Delhi for the annual India-Japan Summit.
Since the last summit between India and Japan was held in March 2022, now is an important time to engage on a bilateral level, as both New Delhi and Tokyo hold the G20 and G7 Presidency, respectively.
At a time when the global order is in a state of massive upheaval and there is a growing need to establish a multipolar world order, his visit focuses on three main objectives. These agendas include bilateral economic and security cooperation, a regional Indo-Pacific security agenda within the Quad framework (with the United States and Australia as the other partners), and a global G-7 agenda led by Japan.
The intention is to further strengthen the Special Strategic and Global Partnership between India and Japan, according to Kishida’s office.
Kishida is expected to outline the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific Plan for Peace” at the Indian Council of World Affairs-sponsored Sapru House Lecture (ICWA).
In his keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore last June, Kishida mentioned the repercussions of China’s actions in the region This was also the first time Kishida mentioned the Indo-Pacific plan, stating that he would unveil it in the spring of 2024. It is anticipated to strengthen Japan’s efforts to promote the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, with a focus on providing patrol vessels and enhancing maritime crime control capabilities, as well as cyber security, digital and green proposals, and financial prosperity.
The scope of the partnership between the two nations includes defence and security, trade and investment, science and technology, education, healthcare, and critical and emerging technologies. During Kishida’s visit to India, the two countries will be able to work on issues where their interests converge, such as food and health security, energy transitions, and economic stability. Arindam Bagchi, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), stated that Japan is a “very important partner” during a press briefing on Thursday and emphasised that India looks forward to the deliberations that will ensue.
Kishida believes India will play a crucial role in realising his vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific due to its strategic geopolitical position in the Indian Ocean.
The Indo-Pacific plan aligns with the Kishida administration’s efforts to strengthen Japan’s defence capabilities within the next five years by substantially increasing military spending, both to defend the nation and to contribute to regional peace and stability.
While India has been embroiled in a protracted military standoff with China in the Ladakh sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Japan has been contending with China’s unilateral efforts to alter the status quo by force in the East China Sea.
The Ukraine crisis is also anticipated to be discussed at the annual summit, given Japan’s push for additional sanctions against Russia. India has refrained from publicly criticising Russia for the war, supported diplomacy and dialogue to resolve the conflict, and increased its oil imports from Russia.
In the past few years, nearly all major powers have released their Indo-Pacific strategies. Japan has advocated for a free and open Indo-Pacific in an effort to preserve and strengthen the region’s rules-based international order.
