By Swati Arun
It is hard to see how an alliance with Japan could be of benefit to India.
The maiden visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Japan has been touted as the crown jewel in India’s East Asia diplomacy this year. New Delhi not only secured unprecedented economic investment from Tokyo but also found a partner for economic growth. India’s need for a financial boost for its economy cannot be overstated and the trip has clearly bolstered bilateral ties.
It is worth asking what benefits Japan reaps from these gestures towards India. The jury is still out on whether the bonhomie will pave the way for future security cooperation amid rising tensions in East Asia. Is this strategic partnership a harbinger of a future alliance? Can a New Delhi-Tokyo relationship evolve into a long-term security-oriented alignment? How is China positioning itself to counter such moves?
Japan would certainly welcome more reliable investment and trade partners. Its difficult relations with China may have nudged it to look for other options offering similar opportunities. For India, this is good news, as it can now more confidently present itself to the world as the next best investment option after China. For his part, Modi ably flaunted the two assets India has that China does not: democracy and non-aggressive diplomacy.
To realize its full economic and demographic potential, India needs a partner that can provide multi-sector support. On this recent trip, however, Modi and Abe went further, discussing their nascent military engagements, triggering speculation over a gradually solidifying Indo-Japanese strategic alliance, particularly through the prism of the “China threat.”
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