Why in news?
Recent Japan PM’s meeting with the U.S. can be seen as a preview for the upcoming Japan PM visit to India.
What were the talks between U.S. and Japan?
- The crux of the discussionsrevolved around China and agenda was set for the wider Indo-Pacific engagement of Japan.
- Both the countries negotiated on their joint security partnership for addressing China’s territorial disputes in the South and East China Seas and in the Taiwan Strait.
- They affirmed the centrality of their treaty alliance-long source of stability in East Asia and pledged to stand up to China in key regions such as the disputed Senkaku Islands and Taiwan.
- They also discussed on Chinese ambitions to dominate the development of new age technologies such as 5G and quantum computing.
- They earmarked billions in funding for the deployment of secure 5G networks, committed to build digital infrastructure in developing countries and collaborate in setting global digital standards.
- They want China to reform economic practices such as violations of intellectual property rights, forced technology transfer, excess capacity issues, and the use of trade distorting industrial subsidies.
- They emphasised their vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific that respects the rule of law, freedom of navigation, democratic norms and the use of peaceful means to settle disputes.
What India can expect from Japan?
- First, India can expect a continuation of the balancing security policy against China that began in 2014.
- Crucially, India’s clashes with China in Galwan have turned public opinion in favour of a more confrontational China policy.
- Both nations will affirm for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific and continued willingness to work with the Quad.
- Second, they will look to expand cooperation in sectors such as cybersecurity and emerging technologies.
- Earlier both the nations put forward a digital research and innovation partnership that included technologies like AI, 5G, Internet of Things and space research.
- With the U.S.-Japan summit, they might look to deepen cooperation between research institutes and expand funding in light of China’s aforementioned technology investment programme.
- Third, economic ties and infrastructure development are likely to be top items on the agendas of the upcoming meeting.
- Japan has poured in around $34 billion in investments into the Indian economy in the last two decades and it is India’s 12th largest trading partner.
- But the trade volumes between the two nations stand at just a fifth of the value of India-China bilateral trade.
- After the summit, Japan’s will reaffirm support for key manufacturing initiatives such as Make in Indi’ and the Japan Industrial Townships.
- Further, India will be keen to secure continued infrastructure investments in the strategically vital connectivity projects in the Northeast and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- Also the upcoming India-Japan summit would devote much attention to evolving a joint strategy towards key third countries and multilateral bodies.
Source: The Hindu
