Japan-India-Vietnam Strategic Trilateral- An Asian Security Imperative

Sea Eagle

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By Dr Subhash Kapila
India-Japan-Vietnam strategic trilateral emerges in 2014 as an indigenous Asian security imperative against the contextual background of United States and Russia despite their Strategic Pivots to Asia getting distracted by global and regional events.
United States sustained focus on its Strategic Pivot to Asia Pacific is seemingly becoming diluted by domestic political constraints and revised foreign policy outlooks. US Congressional imposition of budgetary cuts is ending in reduced force deployments on the ground. With change of US Secretary of State American focus is shifting to the Middle East. US hedging strategies and risk aversion in its China policies are confusing Asian powers perspectives on US real intentions.
Russia is being distracted from its declared Strategic Pivot to Asia Pacific by the United States embarking to destabilise Russia's Western peripheries as it recently got manifested in an American inspired regime change in Ukraine through a civilian coup. The aim of the United States is to keep Russia's strategic focus away from the Asia Pacific.
In such a contextual strategic backdrop Asian security focus has to perforce look inwards to develop an indigenous Asian security trilateral to cater for Asian security and stability and the management of Asian conflicts flash-points.
Ideally Asian security demands an Asian Strategic Quadrilateral comprising India, Japan, Vietnam and China. But then the problem is that China in terms of Asian security and stability is a major part of the problem rather than being a part of the solution. Asian security and stability today stands endangered by China-initiated conflictual flash-points.
The imperative that therefore emerges is an Asian Strategic Trilateral comprising India, Japan and Vietnam. Common strategic concerns and strategic convergences amongst India, Japan and Vietnam have resulted in the forging of bilateral Strategic Partnerships amongst these three nations. China is the only Asian power to view the emergence of such a Strategic Triangle with misgivings and read it as a China-centric hostile move.
Notably, neither United States nor Russia as global powers are likely to view such a strategic development with any degree of concern. India, Japan and Vietnam have a record of being stable and benign powers with no record of instigating conflicts against their neighbours.
India, Japan and Vietnam are strategically pivotal nations and powerful ones at that, relatively. What requires to be done in this direction by these three nations is to synergise their respective bilateral Strategic Partnerships into a Strategic Trilateral.
As stressed by me in an earlier Paper, the aim of such a Strategic Trilateral is not to form a China-containment military bloc. The common effort required from all these three nations is to create formal mechanisms to coordinate their diplomatic efforts and initiatives to ensure a unified approach to meet any challenges to Asia Pacific security from any quarter. It would also entail intelligence sharing and assisting each other in capacity building of their respective maritime security postures. They should also work together to sensitise the global community for all countries to respect and honour international conventions especially in the maritime domains.
Such a Strategic Trilateral would not be directed against undermining of the centrality of ASEAN but complimenting it and therefore should not create any alarms in ASEAN as a regional grouping.
It does need to be pointed out that ASEAN unity in recently years is being divided by China for its narrow strategic ends and the vulnerability of smaller ASEAN country reduces the efficacy of ASEAN to deal with conflicts such as South China Sea conflict escalation by China against its ASEAN neighbours.
In terms of political acceptability of the concept of an India-Japan-Vietnam Strategic Triangle one can assess that Japan and Vietnam would be inclined to work towards implementation of such a concept.
India if reluctant has to convince itself that if it has worked towards forging substantive Strategic Partnerships with both Vietnam and Japan and there should not be any misgivings in forging a Strategic Trilateral India has already set a precedent in participating in the US-Japan-India Trilateral and further in a US-Japan-Australia-India Quadrilateral.
Finally, the time has come and the moment has arrived when the idea of such a Strategic Trilateral of India-Japan-Vietnam is vigorously explored and forged in the interests of Asian security and stability.

India-Japan Vietnam Strategic Trilateral- An Asian Security Imperative | South Asia Analysis Group
 

Yusuf

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Re: Japan-India-Vietnam Strategic Trilateral- An Asian Security Impera

Without the US, an Asian NATO is not workable just like in the existing NATO. The US power is preeminent.

Besides its not just India-Japan -Vietnam. We've been discussing this for ages now. Its going to be US-India-Japan-SoKo-Vietnam-Australia.

Already talks of a quadrilateral of US-India-Japan-Australia which will eventually include many other states of Asia like VN, Maluasia, Indonesia and. SoKo.

US remains the uniting factor as well as Japan evokes sharp reactions for many of the Asian nations.

US may be distracted for the moment, but their priorities are set and they will work their way towards it.
 

Prometheus

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Re: Japan-India-Vietnam Strategic Trilateral- An Asian Security Impera

Without the US, an Asian NATO is not workable just like in the existing NATO. The US power is preeminent.

Besides its not just India-Japan -Vietnam. We've been discussing this for ages now. Its going to be US-India-Japan-SoKo-Vietnam-Australia.

Already talks of a quadrilateral of US-India-Japan-Australia which will eventually include many other states of Asia like VN, Maluasia, Indonesia and. SoKo.

US remains the uniting factor as well as Japan evokes sharp reactions for many of the Asian nations.

US may be distracted for the moment, but their priorities are set and they will work their way towards it.

Not to forget Taiwan
 

no smoking

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Re: Japan-India-Vietnam Strategic Trilateral- An Asian Security Impera

Without US overwhelming military power, this strategic triangle is just a laughbal stock.
The problem is that India and vietnam is willing to pay the price of this military support while USA has no intention to give it for nothing.
Another problem is the price is rising dramastically when Chinese military power grows.
 

DBF1954

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Re: Japan-India-Vietnam Strategic Trilateral- An Asian Security Impera

Take the case of a border conflict between India and China: Now Vietnam should attack China on the land border and Japan with its small navy should blockade China? :rolleyes: Chinese soldiers and ships outnumber them at least 3:1.

No chance that something like this could succeed and therefore it wont happen. On paper and when someone just adds-up numbers it may look possible, but the geography is too important to ignore. The only possibility is closer cooperation with an increase in the sharing of technology and a better exchange of intelligence.
 

ninja85

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Re: Japan-India-Vietnam Strategic Trilateral- An Asian Security Impera

why US is necessary in every thing,why not india kick out corrupt congress and develop naval and other assets on larger numbers and join other asian powers like japan...etc.
 

trackwhack

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Re: Japan-India-Vietnam Strategic Trilateral- An Asian Security Impera

Without the US, an Asian NATO is not workable just like in the existing NATO. The US power is preeminent.

Besides its not just India-Japan -Vietnam. We've been discussing this for ages now. Its going to be US-India-Japan-SoKo-Vietnam-Australia.

Already talks of a quadrilateral of US-India-Japan-Australia which will eventually include many other states of Asia like VN, Maluasia, Indonesia and. SoKo.

US remains the uniting factor as well as Japan evokes sharp reactions for many of the Asian nations.

US may be distracted for the moment, but their priorities are set and they will work their way towards it.
On the contrary any US involvement in an Asian alliance will be detrimental.
 

Peter

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Re: Japan-India-Vietnam Strategic Trilateral- An Asian Security Impera

China is too powerful to be countered by India-Japan-Vietnam alliance at the current moment.Maybe in another 30 years when India becomes a superpower it can battle China on its own.Right now without USA support such an alliance will be of little use.
 

no smoking

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Re: Japan-India-Vietnam Strategic Trilateral- An Asian Security Impera

why US is necessary in every thing,why not india kick out corrupt congress and develop naval and other assets on larger numbers and join other asian powers like japan...etc.
Well, because they got everything you need:
1. military power: neither of these 3 countries have the military capacity to provide meaningful assistance to others which is thousands kilometers away.
2. Financial power: neither of these 3 countries have enough budget to build such a force which is necessary.
3. Political power: none of you 3 have enough political support among your own neighbourhood.
4. technology power: all 3 of you are building your arm force on foreign equipments. Even Japanese can produce their weapon based on US technology.
 

ninja85

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Re: Japan-India-Vietnam Strategic Trilateral- An Asian Security Impera

Well, because they got everything you need:
1. military power: neither of these 3 countries have the military capacity to provide meaningful assistance to others which is thousands kilometers away.
2. Financial power: neither of these 3 countries have enough budget to build such a force which is necessary.
3. Political power: none of you 3 have enough political support among your own neighbourhood.
4. technology power: all 3 of you are building your arm force on foreign equipments. Even Japanese can produce their weapon based on US technology.
:blah::bored:
 

t_co

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Re: Japan-India-Vietnam Strategic Trilateral- An Asian Security Impera

why US is necessary in every thing,why not india kick out corrupt congress and develop naval and other assets on larger numbers and join other asian powers like japan...etc.
Because India can't afford it?
 

roma

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Re: Japan-India-Vietnam Strategic Trilateral- An Asian Security Impera

Without the US, an Asian NATO is not workable just like in the existing NATO. The US power is preeminent.
Besides its not just India-Japan -Vietnam. We've been discussing this for ages now. Its going to be US-India-Japan-SoKo-Vietnam-Australia.
Already talks of a quadrilateral of US-India-Japan-Australia which will eventually include many other states of Asia like VN, Maluasia, Indonesia and. SoKo.
US remains the uniting factor as well as Japan evokes sharp reactions for many of the Asian nations.
US may be distracted for the moment, but their priorities are set and they will work their way towards it.

One critical reason it's been taking ages is because the suggested grouping is too large and diverse
in its military-strategic outlook or vision.

India should not want to aim for an asian NATO-type grouping.


We should instead be going for a core group which militarily, strategically, have a lot in common,
and there is no denying India-Japan-Vietnam very readily fits that bill.


We already have pretty successful bilateral relationships within that triangle
without the addition ( interference ) of the usa, so taking it just one step further
to a trilateral relationship shouldn't be that much of a challenge ?,
especially when we do have a great deal in common .

We should vigorously pursue this trilateral grouping independent of whatever the usa wants to do
with the other huge alliance - that is their affair.

The three of us, India, Japan and Vietnam should be the core group of our own,
separate, military-strategic alliance. ( The usa may wish to intervene, but we should stand firm and convince them that it is in their interests too).
Later others can be added as adjuncts - for specific, particular purposes
 
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jmj_overlord

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Re: Japan-India-Vietnam Strategic Trilateral- An Asian Security Impera

China is too powerful to be countered by India-Japan-Vietnam alliance at the current moment.Maybe in another 30 years when India becomes a superpower it can battle China on its own.Right now without USA support such an alliance will be of little use.
truly, at the present stage this alliance won't work out to counter the chinese (let alone north koreans i think), without US support......
 

no smoking

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Re: Japan-India-Vietnam Strategic Trilateral- An Asian Security Impera

We already have pretty successful bilateral relationships within that triangle
without the addition ( interference ) of the usa, so taking it just one step further
to a trilateral relationship shouldn't be that much of a challenge ?,
especially when we do have a great deal in common .
Well, that step is a huge step. In the past, all you have is just a talking club, no one bears any obligation to others.

We should vigorously pursue this trilateral grouping independent of whatever the usa wants to do
with the other huge alliance - that is their affair.
Ok, before you dream about it, let me tell a simple fact: the US-Japan security treaty is so critical to Japanese that they can't do anything in foreign policy without consultancy with USA.

The three of us, India, Japan and Vietnam should be the core group of our own,
separate, military-strategic alliance. ( The usa may wish to intervene, but we should stand firm and convince them that it is in their interests too).
Later others can be added as adjuncts - for specific, particular purposes
Maybe you should figure out what military promise you can give to each other before dreaming about your "core group".
 

prohumanity

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Re: Japan-India-Vietnam Strategic Trilateral- An Asian Security Impera

It's interesting that all you wise guys and gals are suggesting that India has to make an alliance against China.]I ASK why India needs an alliance against China? [/B] Yes the West needs an alliance against China because it wants to continue its hegemony and suppress a rising China. So, the West wants 1.2 billion Indians to pit against China for its own selfish and evil motives.
If West succeeds in making India and China enemies it has achieved its nasty goal of "divide and conquer" " the same age old dirty trick the Imperialist West played for centuries.
IMHO, India does not need any Anti-China alliance. It can be friendly neighbor of China and do trade and uplift billions of people out of poverty.
India must not let West poison its relationship with its neighbors. I know Indian leaders will not allow this sinister Western design to succeed.b India can be self sufficient and strong enough to avoid being a pawn in West's hands.
West is not as strong as the writers here want you to believe. Don't you see the defeat in Crimea and now, in Ukraine.
Russia alone is enough to give West a bloody nose if attacked.
 
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roma

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Re: Japan-India-Vietnam Strategic Trilateral- An Asian Security Impera

Well, that step is a huge step. In the past, all you have is just a talking club, no one bears any obligation to others.
Ok, before you dream about it, let me tell a simple fact: the US-Japan security treaty is so critical to Japanese that they can't do anything in foreign policy without consultancy with USA.
Maybe you should figure out what military promise you can give to each other before dreaming about your "core group".
it is you who are hiding head in the sand - Japan and India have already marked several bilateral military deals
without any involvement from the usa .... even on this very forum one can read of those cooperation and deals

we dont owe you a dime to figure out what " military promises" we can give.
the anti-india stance of most ccp-dragon members is well known on this forum to the extent that actually all members from ccp-china should be given a special "China Guest Membership" status to indicate their slant on most matters

even if the India -Japan -Vietnam military alliance start off with simply strategic interests meetings it is good enough for a start,
but really the India -Japan military deals have already gone beyond that

sorry you cant stop it - it will progress, perhaps slowly but it will, then the flood stage will come.


It's interesting that all you wise guys and gals are suggesting that India has to make an alliance against China.]I ASK why India needs an alliance against China? [/B] Yes the West needs an alliance against China because it wants to continue its hegemony and suppress a rising China. So, the West wants 1.2 billion Indians to pit against China for its own selfish and evil motives.
If West succeeds in making India and China enemies it has achieved its nasty goal of "divide and conquer" " the same age old dirty trick the Imperialist West played for centuries.
IMHO, India does not need any Anti-China alliance. It can be friendly neighbor of China and do trade and uplift billions of people out of poverty.
India must not let West poison its relationship with its neighbors. I know Indian leaders will not allow this sinister Western design to succeed.b India can be self sufficient and strong enough to avoid being a pawn in West's hands.
West is not as strong as the writers here want you to believe. Don't you see the defeat in Crimea and now, in Ukraine.
Russia alone is enough to give West a bloody nose if attacked.
sorry Sir , if you think China is a friend - please re-think, no offence meant,
as for trade deals, the balance is very heavily in favour of China
in fact such an imbalance should really be interpreted as an act of war !
Im sure the ccp-Chinese are having a good laugh about their advantage in the matter
 
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roma

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Re: Japan-India-Vietnam Strategic Trilateral- An Asian Security Impera

Just to add a clear-cut clarification; the India-Japan-Vietnam Strategic Military alliance that i would propose,
given the opportunity is not necessarily aimed at any particular country and is not necessarily a containment arrangement.

It is merely a grouping of three nations, ( taking it one step above the already successful
existing bilateral agreements ) . It would be to help transfer technology and to cooperate in military
aspects and provide a framework to give the cooperation a better platform .One example of such cooperation should be that if China gets too tough with India then we could transfer Nuke technology to Vietnam, from blueprints to technicians to materials, just as China had practically given the bomb to packland.

It should not ( unlike NATO ) compel one nation to come to the aid of another, if attacked,
although , of course, it would not prevent that from happening .

It is India's answer to packland's stronger than steel and sweeter than honey arrangement with prc-China
except that this involves 3 nations instead of 2
:thumb:

i do hope the MEA and defence authorities of India are tuning in to our DFI :namaste:
 
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Pratap

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Re: Japan-India-Vietnam Strategic Trilateral- An Asian Security Impera

Just to add a clear-cut clarification; the India-Japan-Vietnam Strategic Military alliance that i would propose,
given the opportunity is not necessarily aimed at any particular country and is not necessarily a containment arrangement.

It is merely a grouping of three nations, ( taking it one step above the already successful
existing bilateral agreements ) . It would be to help transfer technology and to cooperate in military
aspects and provide a framework to give the cooperation a better platform .One example of such cooperation should be that if China gets too tough with India then we could transfer Nuke technology to Vietnam, from blueprints to technicians to materials, just as China had practically given the bomb to packland.

It should not ( unlike NATO ) compel one nation to come to the aid of another, if attacked,
although , of course, it would not prevent that from happening .

It is India's answer to packland's stronger than steel and sweeter than honey arrangement with prc-China
except that this involves 3 nations instead of 2
:thumb:

i do hope the MEA and defence authorities of India are tuning in to our DFI :namaste:
Shinzo Abe is Narendra Modi of Japan and Narendra Modi is Shinzo Abe of India. Coming five years will be very interesting as one man from Pakistan on this forum put it in such a nice manner.
 

amoy

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Re: Japan-India-Vietnam Strategic Trilateral- An Asian Security Impera

Shinzo Abe is Narendra Modi of Japan and Narendra Modi is Shinzo Abe of India. Coming five years will be very interesting as one man from Pakistan on this forum put it in such a nice manner.
Abe at least has come up with Abenomics with three arrows. :lol: Why Abenomics will fail I'm all ears - what has Mr Modi India's white knight prescribed for india to live up to her ambition?
 

Peter

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Re: Japan-India-Vietnam Strategic Trilateral- An Asian Security Impera

Abe at least has come up with Abenomics with three arrows. :lol: Why Abenomics will fail I'm all ears - what has Mr Modi India's white knight prescribed for india to live up to her ambition?
You know what Silence is Golden.Mr. Modi will deliver and when he does you shall see the true glory of our country.
 
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