Former Indian Ambassador to Japan Sibi George (right) and JAPAN Forward Editor-in-Chief Yasuo Naito.
India is becoming an increasingly important strategic partner for Japan. That sense was reinforced at the end of August when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Tokyo. At his summit with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, "the entire cabinet leadership turned out to welcome him — a rare sight in recent years," said a senior official.
Japan's growing expectations for India are driven in part by China's ongoing attempts to change the status quo through force and intimidation. This concern was also reflected in the bilateral joint statement.
Security and Economic Cooperation
During the visit, Japan and India updated their joint declaration on security cooperation for the first time in nearly 17 years. Under the revised agreement, they will explore the joint development and production of defense equipment.
The two countries also launched a new "Economic Security Initiative" to ensure a stable supply of critical goods, including semiconductors. In addition, they set a goal of boosting private investment in India to ¥10 trillion JPY (about $67.8 billion USD) over the next decade.
Furthermore, the Japanese government set a target of "deepening people-to-people ties through exchanges of more than 500,000 personnel in five years." The goal is to create a cycle in which Indians who study advanced technologies in Japan return home to contribute to their country's development.
Prime Minister Ishiba stressed that the three pillars — security, economy, and human exchange — would guide policy for the coming year, expressing his intent that Tokyo "raise relations with India to a new and higher level."
Prime Minister Modi, speaking at the Japan-India Economic Forum, said, "Together, we will shape the Asian Century for stability, growth, and prosperity."
Ambassador Sibi George Reflects on His Tenure
As India's ambassador to Japan, Sibi George, who organized Modi's visit, traveled to every prefecture in Japan during his nearly three-year tenure before stepping down on September 10.
Shortly before leaving, he emphasized that he had worked to further people-to-people relations under the theme of "Connecting the Himalayas with Mount Fuji." He also said that Japan-India relations needed a "quantum leap," which he believes will be seen in the "coming months and years."
However, India also faces a difficult position. It is drawing criticism from the West for buying large volumes of oil from Russia, which has launched an invasion of Ukraine. Even so, Ambassador Sibi George remarked, "I'm confident that the best of India will come out in these challenging times."
After returning home, he is expected to take up the post of Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs responsible for Western nations. What will Japan-India relations, Asia, and the world look like ten years from now? I hope to exchange views with him again at that time.
Spotlight on Japan-US Relations
Recently, JAPAN Forward has drawn strong reader interest in articles exploring the future of Japan-US relations, including trade negotiations.
The following was the most-read piece on this topic as of September 14. It was written by William Chou, senior fellow and deputy director of the Hudson Institute's Japan Chair:
Chou analyzed in detail the unprecedented $550 billion investment framework included in the tariff agreement with Japan, which US President Donald Trump signed on September 4.
He noted, "Eight busy months of trade and tariff negotiations under the second Trump administration have produced a flurry of headlines. But the White House is clearly committed to securing foreign investment to revitalize America's industrial strength and economic security.
"Japan, the first nation to include a strategic investment fund in its trade deal, has the opportunity to remain ahead of the curve by working with the US to make investments that advance both countries' security and economic interests.
"Several questions remain about Lutnick and Akazawa's strategic investment fund MOU [Memorandum of Understanding]. Yet perhaps the most important is, What should we invest in first?"
Looking Ahead
Both the Japan-US and Japan-India agreements are set to have a major impact on the future of this country — and of Asia. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ishiba, who has never led his party to victory in a national general election, abruptly announced his resignation on September 7.
Attention is already turning to who will become Japan's next leader and what direction they will take. JAPAN Forward remains committed to reporting on Japan's reality as the country navigates this turbulent new era.
Watch for the next issue on October 13.
JAPAN Forward is a small media outlet driven by an unparalleled passion to advance the future of Japan and its role in the world. For inquiries, please call 0570-033-433 (Sankei iD) or email us at info@japan-forward.com.
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Author: Yasuo Naito, Editor in Chief
