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China's annoyance no hurdle to improve ties with Japan
NEW DELHI: China's possible annoyance at India's coziness with Japan would not get in the way of New Delhi engaging Japan in a big way. As PM Manmohan Singh embarked on his tour to Japan, official sources disputed the perception that fear of Beijing's annoyance was a big hindrance on the efforts to improve ties with Japan. "We are not in the business of anticipatory compliance or allowing one relationship to overwhelm other ties," official sources claimed.
Elaborating on the theme, they said, "It does not make sense to make one relationship hostage to another one."
The purpose of the visit, sources said, was to add content to strategic ties by strengthening military ties, having deepening political consultations, attracting investments for projects such as the Designated Freight Corridor, the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor and enhancing cooperation in fields such as energy and dual use technology.
Sources denied that India planned to act in concert with Japan and the US to contain a rising China. India believes China is not the only rising power in Asia. With the global balance of power shifting to Asia, countries like Indonesia, Vietnam and South Korea are all witnessing economic growth. Concurrently they are increasing their political and security influence in the region. Vietnam's naval capacities are growing and Japan is actually witnessing an economic spurt.
"That is why we plan to create an Asian security architecture. It is a multi-player game which keeps evolving and which others are trying to come to terms with," they added.
Earlier, the PM said India sees its relations with Japan as key for advancing stability in Asia. Describing Japanese PM Shinzo Abe as "a good friend", Singh, in his departure statement, said there was a "growing congruence of interests" between the two countries. It was during the stand-off with China that the PM announced he would stay on in Japan for an extra day.
"The visit will also allow the two governments to take stock of the progress in flagship projects in our partnership, like the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor and the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor," he said.
In an interview to Japanese media before leaving for Tokyo, the PM promised better implementation and clearance of projects and invited Japanese industry to invest in India. "I see an enormous role for the Japanese industry to contribute not only to infrastructure development of India, but also to accelerate the tempo of manufacturing sector in India's economy," he said.
Expounding on the Indian economy, the PM said, "Our principal concern is to strengthen the impulses to accelerate the process of investment, particularly the investment in infrastructure which has been a big bottleneck which has held up our growth process. We would like to remove these bottlenecks. We have set up the Cabinet Committee on Investment to look at precisely the bottlenecks which hamper the growth of infrastructure sector. And we are hopeful and confident that this will happen."
Questioned about maritime security cooperation between India and Japan, Singh said, "Maritime cooperation and coordination between India and Japan has grown. India and Japan launched bilateral naval exercise last year. We started a new dialogue for discussing maritime affairs, including maritime security challenges."
China's annoyance no hurdle to improve ties with Japan - The Times of India
*****************************************************
Manmohan Singh is spot on when he says that China's annoyance is misplaced over India building up a trade and security relationship with Japan.
China must learn to live with this in the same way India has accepted that the Chinese bonhomie with Pakistan to include arming Pakistan with nuclear assistance.
Just as India has kept good relations with China and Pakistan, and in fact is in constant dialogue to ensure peace in the subcontinent with Pakistan, China must learn from India and build bridges with Japan and not adopt a warmonger role, which China is doing at present.
It is important the India, Japan and the countries around the Pacific Rim chalk out a strategic relationship so that the East West sea corridor is clear of all bottlenecks and threats.
India is on the right course.
China has no cause to be annoyed, not that it really matters!
NEW DELHI: China's possible annoyance at India's coziness with Japan would not get in the way of New Delhi engaging Japan in a big way. As PM Manmohan Singh embarked on his tour to Japan, official sources disputed the perception that fear of Beijing's annoyance was a big hindrance on the efforts to improve ties with Japan. "We are not in the business of anticipatory compliance or allowing one relationship to overwhelm other ties," official sources claimed.
Elaborating on the theme, they said, "It does not make sense to make one relationship hostage to another one."
The purpose of the visit, sources said, was to add content to strategic ties by strengthening military ties, having deepening political consultations, attracting investments for projects such as the Designated Freight Corridor, the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor and enhancing cooperation in fields such as energy and dual use technology.
Sources denied that India planned to act in concert with Japan and the US to contain a rising China. India believes China is not the only rising power in Asia. With the global balance of power shifting to Asia, countries like Indonesia, Vietnam and South Korea are all witnessing economic growth. Concurrently they are increasing their political and security influence in the region. Vietnam's naval capacities are growing and Japan is actually witnessing an economic spurt.
"That is why we plan to create an Asian security architecture. It is a multi-player game which keeps evolving and which others are trying to come to terms with," they added.
Earlier, the PM said India sees its relations with Japan as key for advancing stability in Asia. Describing Japanese PM Shinzo Abe as "a good friend", Singh, in his departure statement, said there was a "growing congruence of interests" between the two countries. It was during the stand-off with China that the PM announced he would stay on in Japan for an extra day.
"The visit will also allow the two governments to take stock of the progress in flagship projects in our partnership, like the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor and the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor," he said.
In an interview to Japanese media before leaving for Tokyo, the PM promised better implementation and clearance of projects and invited Japanese industry to invest in India. "I see an enormous role for the Japanese industry to contribute not only to infrastructure development of India, but also to accelerate the tempo of manufacturing sector in India's economy," he said.
Expounding on the Indian economy, the PM said, "Our principal concern is to strengthen the impulses to accelerate the process of investment, particularly the investment in infrastructure which has been a big bottleneck which has held up our growth process. We would like to remove these bottlenecks. We have set up the Cabinet Committee on Investment to look at precisely the bottlenecks which hamper the growth of infrastructure sector. And we are hopeful and confident that this will happen."
Questioned about maritime security cooperation between India and Japan, Singh said, "Maritime cooperation and coordination between India and Japan has grown. India and Japan launched bilateral naval exercise last year. We started a new dialogue for discussing maritime affairs, including maritime security challenges."
China's annoyance no hurdle to improve ties with Japan - The Times of India
*****************************************************
Manmohan Singh is spot on when he says that China's annoyance is misplaced over India building up a trade and security relationship with Japan.
China must learn to live with this in the same way India has accepted that the Chinese bonhomie with Pakistan to include arming Pakistan with nuclear assistance.
Just as India has kept good relations with China and Pakistan, and in fact is in constant dialogue to ensure peace in the subcontinent with Pakistan, China must learn from India and build bridges with Japan and not adopt a warmonger role, which China is doing at present.
It is important the India, Japan and the countries around the Pacific Rim chalk out a strategic relationship so that the East West sea corridor is clear of all bottlenecks and threats.
India is on the right course.
China has no cause to be annoyed, not that it really matters!
