Cooperation is Good, but Keep Modi's India on the Side of Democracies

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Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in Tokyo on August 29. In their summit meeting, they agreed to deepen cooperation in a wide range of areas, including economics and security.

The two leaders issued a joint statement, which read in part: "...it is imperative to develop a mutually complementary relationship by building upon our accomplishments and to leverage our respective strengths as well as excellent ties to pursue security and prosperity for the next generations."

India and Japan's joint declaration on security cooperation was revised for the first time in about 17 years. It included a call for consideration of joint development and production of defense equipment.

The two sides also confirmed the launch of a new "Economic Security Initiative." It is a cooperative framework aimed at ensuring a stable supply of critical goods, including semiconductors. Hopefully, both nations will work to achieve a "free and open Indo-Pacific" and advance cooperation for security and economic development.

The Joint Statement

With China's maritime expansion very much in mind, the joint statement appropriately voiced grave concern about the situations in the East and South China Seas. It also expressed strong opposition to unilateral actions that attempt to change the status quo through force or coercion.

*Prime Minister Ishiba welcomes Indian Prime Minister Modi on August 29. (Courtesy of Cabinet Secretariat)*

The two leaders reiterated their commitment "to advancing cooperation among like-minded countries through multilateral frameworks" such as the Quad framework, which brings together Japan, the United States, Australia, and India. Hopefully, our nations work together to improve their deterrent capabilities vis-à-vis China.

However, it is disappointing that Prime Minister Modi did not specifically criticize Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. US President Donald Trump has been highly critical of India for its large purchases of Russian crude oil and imposed a 50% tariff on imports from India. The deterioration in US-India relations has provided China with an opportunity to draw closer to New Delhi. China's leaders are clearly aiming to manage the Sino-Indian border issue while deepening economic ties.

Reminding India It's a Democracy

Next, Prime Minister Modi has gone to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin, which began on August 31. It is his first visit to China in roughly seven years.

India has the world's largest population and has been maintaining a high economic growth rate. It is a leader of the "Global South," which consists of emerging and developing countries, and is also a coastal country on Japan's oil route.

Japan needs to continue its efforts to keep India on the side of democracies such as Japan and the United States. Often, India tends to place importance on economic relations with authoritarian countries such as China and Russia. However, maintaining an international order based on the rule of law is in India's national interest.

People-to-People Action Plan

The Japan-India summit adopted an action plan to enhance people-to-people ties through exchanges of more than 500,000 people over the next five years. That includes 50,000 highly qualified Indian workers coming to Japan.

India has many talented people. However, this initiative cannot be allowed to morph into mass immigration. Exchanges should be conducted on the basis of ensuring the safety and security of citizens of both countries.

Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun

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