PM Modi's visit to Japan is critical for Asia: Uday Bhaskar

Security and strategic analyst C Uday Bhaskar on Saturday described Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Japan as very critical for the whole of Asia, and added that this would have an impact on the global strategic framework.

"Personally, I would qualify the Indian-Japan relationship as one of the most critical relationships not only for India and Japan but also for Asia because if you review the last 40-50 years and look at Asia as a geostrategic space, what is now evident is the rise of China. It is becoming a very very assertive power; it has tangible capabilities in the economic, technological and military fields and there seems to be a Chinese objective to create what I often describe as a unipolar Asia," Bhaskar told ANI here while commenting on the Prime Minister's current visit to Japan.

"Now, this is something that his not acceptable to both India and Japan and I would say many other smaller countries in Asia, particularly in East Asia and Southeast Asia. Now, the only way to deal with this to my mind is for India and Japan to have a common objective, which is to increase their own comprehensive national power individually and also enter into a bilateral relationship for the long-term whereby they benefit from each other's cooperation and niche capabilities," he added.

Prime Minister Modi, accompanied by a high-level delegation including National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh, arrived at Japan's Osaka International Airport on a five-day visit today.

In his departure statement earlier, Prime Minister Modi said that his visit 'underlines the high priority that Japan receives in our foreign and economic policies'.

The Prime Minister also said that this visit is a reflection of Japan's paramount importance in his vision for development and prosperity in India and in peace, stability and prosperity in Asia at large.

Besides holding talks with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, he will meet the Emperor of Japan, political leaders, business community and students.