India-Japan ties enter strategic sphere

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http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article498924.ece

India-Japan ties enter strategic sphere


While the United States is still considering high-tech trade with India, Japan has removed a number of Indian companies off its end user list to create the environment for closer ties in the strategic sphere.

Japan's removal of 11 Indian companies from the end user list and addition of four new ones comes as both sides began talks on closer military ties and held two rounds of discussions on civil nuclear energy cooperation.

For the first time, the two sides will hold a two-plus-two dialogue next week involving top bureaucrats from the Defence and Foreign Ministries. Japan has so far conducted dialogue in this format only with close allies — the U.S. and Australia.

Improving ties with the two Far Eastern neighbours — South Korea and Japan — is part of India's revitalised "Look East" policy that involves greater security and economic partnerships with these two countries, besides China, Australia and the 10 Association of South East Nations.

While India has moved closer to civil nuclear partnership with South Korea, it has also made progress in this respect with Japan, which was earlier reluctant to consider such as deal with a country that has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and is also not in favour of inking several non-proliferation conventions.

Pushed by Japanese majors Mitsubishi and Toshiba, which have substantial involvement in the civil nuclear sector, Tokyo is very keen not to lose the opportunity of participating in India's civil nuclear energy renaissance. With these two companies expected to benefit from Indian orders to U.S. and French companies, New Delhi and Tokyo held the first meeting of the sub-group on civil nuclear energy 90 minutes after the proposal was broached by the Japanese themselves.

Security of sea lanes

In return, both South Korea and Japan feel India can play an important role in quelling their uncertainties over the security of sea lanes of communication on which both depend heavily for transporting their energy requirements. Tokyo and Seoul are taking an interest in the Indian Navy initiative called the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium that sees all relevant players trying to make the seas safe.

Officials say both Japan and South Korea are keen on greater military ties with India and are reciprocating by offering partnerships in civil nuclear energy that is of great interest to New Delhi.

Some of the companies removed from the Japanese end users list include heavyweights such as the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), the Indian Space Research Organisation, Godrej & Boyce and Rashtriya Chemicals Limited. Even though some new entities such as the DRDO's Aeronautical Research Development Establishment have been added, the South Block is interpreting the overall reduction in the number of Indian organisations on Tokyo's proscribed list as a good development.
 

samarsingh

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Many post war(WW2) constraints eroded Japan's military capabilities. They had tremendos indigenous capabilities during WW2 as far as weapons, aircraft, ships are concerned. If it were not for these post war constraints IMO Mitsubhishi would have surely given Boeing and LM a run for their money.
I think some sort of strategic partnership with Japan will be of great advantage for us. We need to respond to China's continous support to Pakistan. In my view South Korea and Japan would be a better choice compared to Taiwan in this regard. The United States would not disapprove of such a partnership as long as it sees it as a geopolitical stabiliser in the region vis a vis China and feels no threat to its own interests.
 

SHASH2K2

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Many post war(WW2) constraints eroded Japan's military capabilities. They had tremendos indigenous capabilities during WW2 as far as weapons, aircraft, ships are concerned. If it were not for these post war constraints IMO Mitsubhishi would have surely given Boeing and LM a run for their money.
I think some sort of strategic partnership with Japan will be of great advantage for us. We need to respond to China's continous support to Pakistan. In my view South Korea and Japan would be a better choice compared to Taiwan in this regard. The United States would not disapprove of such a partnership as long as it sees it as a geopolitical stabiliser in the region vis a vis China and feels no threat to its own interests.
Even now Japanese have one of best defensive forces and technologies but their constitution has barred them from attaining offensive capability. If japan decides to work on offensive tech it will be a great boon for us. We should try and get Japanese into some of high tech defense projects. That will be great. Regarding INDO, KOREA and JAPAN nexus you are absolutely correct.
 

samarsingh

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Even now Japanese have one of best defensive forces and technologies but their constitution has barred them from attaining offensive capability. If japan decides to work on offensive tech it will be a great boon for us. We should try and get Japanese into some of high tech defense projects. That will be great. Regarding INDO, KOREA and JAPAN nexus you are absolutely correct.
This is from wikipedia
link:- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Self-Defense_Forces

Japan's Basic Policy for National Defense stipulates the following:

1. Maintaining an exclusive defense-oriented policy.
2. To avoid becoming a major military power that might pose a threat to the world.
3. Refraining from the development of nuclear weapons, and to refuse to allow nuclear weapons inside Japanese territory.
4. Ensuring civilian control of the military.
5. Maintaining security arrangements with the United States.
6. Building up defensive capabilities within moderate limits.

Guess the Japanese paid a hevy price for war, they got their own treaty of versailles (or probably worse)

notice points 2,5, and 6. The US would not let them to have offensive capabilities. This ensures permanent US bases in Japan. Last month Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama resigned citing failure to honour election promises to bring sweeping change to domestic policy and fundamentally alter the country's relations with the US. He wanted a more equal relationship with US and was against their base in Okinawa.
Their strike fighter is jointly produced by Mitshubhishi and LM.
The US would not worry if Japanese cooperate with us, Australians or Koreans. Its China which is their concern. In this regard we have similar interests and should explore a strategic partnership with Japan.
 

amoy

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Guess the Japanese paid a hevy price for war, they got their own treaty of versailles (or probably worse)
+++++++++++++++
China (ROC and Later PRC) actually waived Japan's war compensation for China in the name of 'leniency' but Japan lost Korean Peninsula and Taiwan (China ceded to Japan in an earlier war) and Sakhalin and North Kuril Islands. China held back the troop that was supposed to station in Japan as requested due to the civil war in which ROC lost mainland. But USSR had no mercy - sending hundreds of thousands of Jap to labor camps in Siberia where they learned their lesson unforgetable for the rest of their life.


but...


guys, are u sure u read Uncle Sam's mind correctly? does Uncle really need/want a remilitarized Japan who certainly won't be willing to continue to play second fiddle in Uncle's far east strategy?
 
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If USA is allowing the remilitarization they will make sure Japan keeps dancing to USA's tune.
 

nrj

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New Administration in Japan seems to be of some free thoughts. But Japan can not just sideline US in any policy since open threat from China. Maybe they can militarize themselves from other countries siting price tags of US manufacturers.
 

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