26th August 2025 (20 Topics)
1
Aug
2
Aug
4
Aug
5
Aug
6
Aug
7
Aug
8
Aug
9
Aug
11
Aug
12
Aug
13
Aug
14
Aug
15
Aug
16
Aug
18
Aug
19
Aug
20
Aug
21
Aug
22
Aug
23
Aug
25
Aug
26
Aug
India-Japan Ties at Crossroads
You must be logged in to get greater insights. click here to login
Context:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Japancomes amid Tokyo’s pledge of a ¥10 trillion investment in India and evolving regional geopolitics.
Japan’s Expansive Investment and Technology Transfer
- Long-term Economic Commitment: Japan has pledged a ¥10 trillion (about $68 billion) investment over the next decade in India’s infrastructure, manufacturing, clean energy, and technology sectors.
- High-speed Rail and Innovation: Tokyo’s role in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project through the E10 series Shinkansen demonstrates its willingness to transfer cutting-edge technology.
- Strategic Economic Security: The new Economic Security Initiative will strengthen cooperation in semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, and renewable energy, diversifying supply chains for India.
Strategic and Security Dimensions
- Revised Security Cooperation: India and Japan are set to revise their 2008 Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation to address new regional and global challenges.
- Indo-Pacific Stability: Both nations reaffirm commitment to a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific through enhanced defence collaboration and digital partnerships, including AI and startups.
- Balancing with China: Modi’s visit to Beijing after Tokyo reflects India’s strategy of compartmentalising — pursuing deep ties with Japan while managing tensions with China through limited confidence-building measures.
The U.S. Factor and Strategic Balancing
- Erosion of U.S. Reliability: Trump 2.0’s unpredictability raises doubts over Washington’s role in sustaining the Quad, weakening its operational depth and consistency.
- Quad’s Strategic Challenges: The grouping’s effectiveness depends on U.S. commitment, and India, Japan, and Australia now face the task of sustaining its credibility without assured U.S. leadership.
- Japan as Anchor Partner: Amid wavering U.S. engagement and continuing mistrust with China, Japan emerges as India’s most consistent partner, offering stability, resources, and a shared democratic outlook.
Practice Question
“In the context of shifting Indo-Pacific geopolitics, critically analyse how Japan’s growing economic and strategic partnership with India serves as a stabilising factor amid U.S. unpredictability and persistent tensions with China.” (250 words)
More Articles
Courses
Study
Notes
Home
Resources
More
