mukeshkumar007
January 20th, 2006, 03:30 PM
Sahara Times :
"
Global State Power matrix is rapidly stabilizing as a ‘one superpower and multiple powers’ model. Over the Asia Pacific regions Japan, China and India fall into the category of existing and emerging multiple state powers. These powers carry the baggage of past history, economics realities and their individual relationships with the superpower, the United States in their bilateral dealings. Interestingly, these powers are somewhat tightly bound with one another economically. But, politically, particularly in respect of Japan and China, the story is much different.
However, Indo-Japanese relations are moving towards greener pastures. With the US
‘strategic focus’ in the region shifting towards India, it appears that Japan is likely to engage India more proactively in the years to come.
The recent visit of Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Taro Aso, to India should be viewed in the backdrop of these realities. India also appears to have decided to engage Japan proactively with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee announcing their intentions to visit Japan in the near future. It is expected that they would undertake discussion mainly on strengthening dialogue and exchanges in security and defence fields.
Japan had economically ruled Asia for many years. But, now China is rapidly moving towards becoming an economic giant in the region. Japan is yet to come to terms with the economic rise of China that not only boasts double-digit growth but also has the world’s largest population of 1.2 billion people, as well as a mighty military and a leadership that displays strong nationalist sentiment. Few days back Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso had mentioned that Beijing poses “a considerable military threat” because it has nuclear weapons and is boosting its military spending.
The emergence of China into the global renown represents a hurting situation for Japan that has a bigger economy and is also treated as a mature partner few years Sino Japanese relations have been declining. Japan understands that it may not be possible for her to stop the ‘rise’ of China. But, by engaging India Japan intends to develop a politico-economic power block in the region to refocus the regional shift-taking place due to rising China.
From Indian point of view Japan is important because it is the only country of significance in the region that has supported their candidature for the seat in the UN Security Council. Also, knowing its equation with the US, India may expect some positive lobbying from them. On strategic front, India anticipates Japan to be its major ally. This becomes evident from the fact that while announcing the Indian Prime Minister and Defence Minister’s visit to Japan the Indian authorities have also announce that the next round of Comprehensive Security Dialogue and military to military talks will precede these visits.
For Japan nuclear issue is not only a political one but also an emotional one. For them creditability of non-proliferation treaty is of paramount importance. Still Japan has claimed that it understands the importance India attaches to peaceful use of nuclear energy and in the recent Foreign Ministers visit have agreed to launch a joint secretary/ director general-level annual dialogue on disarmament and non-proliferation. Also, Japan has supported India’s participation in International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) fusion energy project. Apart from this Japan will carry out feasibility study survey for the multimodal freight corridors with computerized train control system on Mumbai-Delhi and Delhi Howarh routes.
For Japan the progress made by India has become a big boon. It has become the most viable market in the region for export, import and investments. Also it wants to exploit the India’s regional compulsions of not being China’s not so friendly neighbour. Today the biggest obstacle for restoring Sino-Japanese good will is that as nationalism is rising in both countries it is often difficult to separate politics from economics. Also Tokyo probably wants to cooperate with Washington in the latter’s long standing “containment and encirclement policy” against China. Engaging India could serve a larger purpose for them particularly when other countries of the region like Vietnam, Korea etc. are likely to help them in making the encirclement policy a reality.
So India needs to calibrate its foreign policy in tune with its security and economic interest. For India both Japan and the US are important economic and political partners. This partnership relation need to nursed and pursued vigorously. It is almost a certainty that future powers in the world are going to be China and India. Currently China is not overtly threatening India’s global interests. Hence, it would be immature to hurt them unnecessarily. But, at the same time India also needs the help of Japan and the US to secure its strategic interests that are more China centric. For India, the real diplomatic challenge is to manage these complexities. "
hope u found it interesting.
"
Global State Power matrix is rapidly stabilizing as a ‘one superpower and multiple powers’ model. Over the Asia Pacific regions Japan, China and India fall into the category of existing and emerging multiple state powers. These powers carry the baggage of past history, economics realities and their individual relationships with the superpower, the United States in their bilateral dealings. Interestingly, these powers are somewhat tightly bound with one another economically. But, politically, particularly in respect of Japan and China, the story is much different.
However, Indo-Japanese relations are moving towards greener pastures. With the US
‘strategic focus’ in the region shifting towards India, it appears that Japan is likely to engage India more proactively in the years to come.
The recent visit of Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Taro Aso, to India should be viewed in the backdrop of these realities. India also appears to have decided to engage Japan proactively with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee announcing their intentions to visit Japan in the near future. It is expected that they would undertake discussion mainly on strengthening dialogue and exchanges in security and defence fields.
Japan had economically ruled Asia for many years. But, now China is rapidly moving towards becoming an economic giant in the region. Japan is yet to come to terms with the economic rise of China that not only boasts double-digit growth but also has the world’s largest population of 1.2 billion people, as well as a mighty military and a leadership that displays strong nationalist sentiment. Few days back Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso had mentioned that Beijing poses “a considerable military threat” because it has nuclear weapons and is boosting its military spending.
The emergence of China into the global renown represents a hurting situation for Japan that has a bigger economy and is also treated as a mature partner few years Sino Japanese relations have been declining. Japan understands that it may not be possible for her to stop the ‘rise’ of China. But, by engaging India Japan intends to develop a politico-economic power block in the region to refocus the regional shift-taking place due to rising China.
From Indian point of view Japan is important because it is the only country of significance in the region that has supported their candidature for the seat in the UN Security Council. Also, knowing its equation with the US, India may expect some positive lobbying from them. On strategic front, India anticipates Japan to be its major ally. This becomes evident from the fact that while announcing the Indian Prime Minister and Defence Minister’s visit to Japan the Indian authorities have also announce that the next round of Comprehensive Security Dialogue and military to military talks will precede these visits.
For Japan nuclear issue is not only a political one but also an emotional one. For them creditability of non-proliferation treaty is of paramount importance. Still Japan has claimed that it understands the importance India attaches to peaceful use of nuclear energy and in the recent Foreign Ministers visit have agreed to launch a joint secretary/ director general-level annual dialogue on disarmament and non-proliferation. Also, Japan has supported India’s participation in International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) fusion energy project. Apart from this Japan will carry out feasibility study survey for the multimodal freight corridors with computerized train control system on Mumbai-Delhi and Delhi Howarh routes.
For Japan the progress made by India has become a big boon. It has become the most viable market in the region for export, import and investments. Also it wants to exploit the India’s regional compulsions of not being China’s not so friendly neighbour. Today the biggest obstacle for restoring Sino-Japanese good will is that as nationalism is rising in both countries it is often difficult to separate politics from economics. Also Tokyo probably wants to cooperate with Washington in the latter’s long standing “containment and encirclement policy” against China. Engaging India could serve a larger purpose for them particularly when other countries of the region like Vietnam, Korea etc. are likely to help them in making the encirclement policy a reality.
So India needs to calibrate its foreign policy in tune with its security and economic interest. For India both Japan and the US are important economic and political partners. This partnership relation need to nursed and pursued vigorously. It is almost a certainty that future powers in the world are going to be China and India. Currently China is not overtly threatening India’s global interests. Hence, it would be immature to hurt them unnecessarily. But, at the same time India also needs the help of Japan and the US to secure its strategic interests that are more China centric. For India, the real diplomatic challenge is to manage these complexities. "
hope u found it interesting.