New Delhi
29 December 2009
On any other occasion, the India-Japan action plan unveiled on Tuesday would
instantly have drawn comparisons with similar agreements between and among Japan,
Australia and the US. But the reality of a left-leaning government headed by Prime
Minister Hatoyama, his desire to pursue a foreign policy more independent of the US
and improve ties with China, coupled with President Barack Obama's diplomatic
overtures to Beijing, all have contributed to dispel any notion of revival of the stillborn
quadrilateral security architecture among the US, Japan, Australia and India.
The view from China is cautious, though. An article in the Global Times quoted Lin
Fengjun, a professor of international relations at Peking University, as saying that in the
competition between China and India, Japan is likely to become India's natural ally.
"Japan is also aware of India's growth. An Indo-Japanese strong trade partnership also
creates the possibility of security cooperation between the two countries," Prof Lin said.
For its part, New Delhi remains optimistic of its relations with Tokyo, in spite of
differences over issues such as NPT and CTBT. "The economic partnership between
India and Japan is the bedrock of our relations. But over the last few years, we have
significantly diversified our relations in the areas of defence, security and counter-
terrorism," Prime Minister Singh said in his opening statement at a joint press
conference with Mr Hatoyama.
India and Japan were quick with the disclaimer that the closer security ties between them
was not directed against China. For one, the proposed two-plus-two format would be at
the sub-cabinet (foreign and defence secretaries) level, distinct from the two-plus-two
ministerial-level talks in vogue between Japan and Australia, or Japan and the US.
Further, the Japan-Australia action plan talks about enhancement of bilateral defence
cooperation in such frameworks as Japan-Australia-US trilateral framework, but there is
no such reference in the India-Japan action plan. Also omitted is any reference to PSI
(Proliferation Security Initiative).
The action plan flowed from the Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation adopted during
Prime Minister Singh's visit to Tokyo in October 2008. The India-Japan Joint Declaration
is only the second such declaration for Japan, outside of its security relationship with
the US.
// CTBT FACTS //
Member states: 182
Total ratifications: 151
Latest state signatory: Trinidad and Tobago
Latest ratifying state: Marshall Islands
(Source: ctbto.org)
// Japan offers to share bullet train system with India //
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama of Japan on Tuesday pitched for introducing the
Shinkansen (Japanese for high-speed 'bullet' trains) in India. "Since its inception (in
Japan), there has been no accidents. We will like to see this technology being used in
India," he said, adding that it will bring benefits to India and Japan alike. Indian Railways
is exploring the possibilities of introducing superfast trains on certain routes such as
Mumbai-Ahmedabad and Delhi-Chandigarh sectors. During Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh's visit to Tokyo in December 2006, Japan had assured cooperation to India in
creating a high-speed rail link between New Delhi and Mumbai.
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