India's Experience with China Offers Valuable Lessons for Japan

As a junior high school student, I was shocked and horrified when China invaded India's northeast frontier area in 1962. Later, though, the People's Liberation Army had to withdraw. Since then, for over 60 years, I have been carefully watching Indo-Chinese relations. I strongly feel there are some hints Japan could learn from India's experience with China.

China's increasing assertiveness creates common challenges for Japan and India in their respective regions. India deals with ongoing border tensions along the Himalayas. Japan manages maritime activities near the Senkaku Islands and wider Indo-Pacific dynamics. 

India's handling of events since the 2020 Ladakh standoff provides Japan with practical insights. These include balancing firmness on key interests with steady diplomacy. Economic resilience and strategic partnerships also play central roles. Such measures help avoid escalation while promoting stability.

Developments in Ladakh during April 2020 illustrate how gradual shifts can alter established positions. Chinese forces advanced into areas previously under Indian control. This occurred despite agreements from 1993 to 2013 designed to maintain the status quo. 

Multiple rounds of talks followed, including 18 meetings between corps commanders. These efforts led to buffer zones and disengagement protocols. Infrastructure developments, such as helipads and radar sites, appeared on both sides of the line. 

Japan observes parallel patterns in the East China Sea. Regular presence in contested waters shapes the operational landscape over time. Formal claims remain intact, yet the environment evolves incrementally.

De-linking Economic Interdependence and Security

Economic interdependence does not guarantee restraint in strategic actions. India and China maintain substantial trade volumes, reaching about USD $128 billion USD in 2024–25. Japan enjoys similarly deep ties with China. 

These links influence decision-making, yet have not prevented frictions. Both nations recognize the limits of economic engagement alone. Strategic clarity and preparation become essential complements. India's adjustments post-Ladakh encouraged some recalibrations from China. Japan's supply chain diversification reflects a comparable awareness of vulnerabilities.

India strengthened its position through targeted investments and open channels. Road projects, like the Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie route, enhanced access to remote areas. Surveillance and logistics along the Line of Actual Control improved significantly. Diplomatic efforts persisted via special representatives and military dialogues. These steps managed tensions effectively. 

Japan could adapt similar enhancements for the East China Sea. Increased patrols, better surveillance, and forward infrastructure would bolster readiness. Regular bilateral contacts with China could minimize the risk of miscalculation.

Toward Economic Resilience

Economic measures form another cornerstone of resilience. India restricted certain apps and scrutinized foreign investments in sensitive areas after the standoff. Production incentives supported local manufacturing in electronics and semiconductors. Dependencies on imports declined gradually. 

Japan advanced its "China plus one" approach with funding for production shifts. Investments flowed to partners like India. Joint efforts in semiconductors, critical minerals, and green energy hold promise. These initiatives reduce exposure to potential coercion for both countries.

Partnerships amplify individual strengths in meaningful ways. Japan and India deepened ties through the Quad and bilateral frameworks. The Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation underpins collaboration in maritime security and technology. The Special Strategic and Global Partnership fosters logistics, operations, and infrastructure projects. India's Northeast highways counter regional encirclement concerns. These arrangements enhance deterrence without overt confrontation. 

Japan benefits from expanding Quad engagements, ASEAN ties, and links with like-minded nations. A balanced regional order emerges from such cooperation.

Recent developments reinforce this pattern. In September 2025, Japan and India bolstered cooperation amid broader rivalries. Trade ties with Japan grew steadily, contrasting with China dynamics. The China factor shapes Japan-India relations positively. Defense modernization and economic security align closely. 

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's G20 discussions with Narendra Modi highlighted artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and supply chain goals. These steps support a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Advancing Along Parallel Lines 

Diplomacy remains a steady tool for navigation. India engages China through BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and other forums. Core principles of sovereignty and mutual respect guide interactions. 

High-level meetings reaffirm peaceful coexistence alongside economic collaboration. Border issues persist, yet do not overshadow all channels. Shared interests in climate, health, and stability offer common ground. 

Japan employs similar multilateral avenues. Coordinated messaging with India, Australia, and others encourages constructive progress. Sensitivities around public narratives inform careful responses.

India's path demonstrates that a layered strategy works well. Defense readiness pairs with economic diversification. Dialogue sustains alongside partnerships. 

Japan advances along parallel lines already. Its defense upgrades, economic initiatives, and ties with India position it strongly. Reflecting on India's balance of firmness and flexibility refines approaches further. Emphasis on resilience and commitment to talks proves effective. 

A rules-based Indo-Pacific benefits from these adaptations.

Ongoing border management in Ladakh shows sustained application. Patrol arrangements and infrastructure matching prevent further shifts. Transparency about events builds domestic support. 

Economic reviews continue to evolve. Partnerships deliver tangible outcomes, from joint exercises to tech transfers. 

Japan's maritime domain sees analogous needs. Base enhancements in Djibouti assist monitoring. Trilateral projects with India in South Asia counterbalance influences. These elements create a cohesive framework.

Conclusion

In this environment, adaptability matters greatly. India ranks highly in Asia's power indices for 2025, reflecting strategic gains. Japan's economic leadership complements geographic strengths. Together, they address shared concerns effectively. 

Lessons from India encourage proactive yet measured steps. Stability follows from diversified strengths and open lines. Both nations contribute to regional equilibrium through such means.

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Author: Professor Pema Gyalpo, PHD

Dr Pema Gyalpo is a Visiting Professor at the Takushoku University Center for Indo-Pacific Strategic Studies.