Natural partners

Closer relations with Japan are a strategic must

Under its new prime minister, Shinzo Abe, Japan has moved into an expansionary phase both economically and strategically. Japanese capital and companies are searching for destinations other than China, and the country's strategic vision has also broadened. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit there comes, thus, at a most opportune time. His description of Japan as a "natural and indispensable partner" is accurate; but the question is whether these words will be transformed into action. After all, Mr Abe's last tenure as prime minister of Japan half a decade ago was notable for an apparent energy to Indo-Japanese relations; but that momentum was squandered. Policymakers in New Delhi remain extremely concerned about provoking China. That the government of the People's Republic is easily provoked is visible from the noises being made in its state-controlled media about Dr Singh's visit. The People's Daily described Japanese politicians seeking closer relations with India as "petty burglars", and said that Sino-Indian relations should not be disturbed by "internal and international provocateurs".

There is, of course, a limit to how much countries like Japan can aid India when it comes to flashpoints in the Himalayas, for example. In the end, only robust co-operation with the United States can provide, for example, the up-to-date satellite imagery that will aid India in matching China's overwhelming superiority in that sector. Sadly, India's government has not shown enough energy in keeping ties with the US at the same pitch that they were when the White House was occupied by a Republican. However, fear of China's reaction cannot be allowed to stand in the way of natural co-operation with Japan. India has so far had a distressing habit of refusing to commit itself all the way, although realpolitik in this case clearly suggests that closer alliances with other regional powers concerned about an assertive China is the only option. Not just Japan and Australia - with the US, the other corners of Mr Abe's "democratic security diamond" - but also Vietnam should be embraced more wholeheartedly than India has hitherto. Maritime co-operation in particular is to be encouraged; after all, given that China's navy has berthing rights at ports very close to India's waters, India should begin to reciprocate. If China sees India as a wavering, soft state, it has too little incentive to avoid precipitating crises.

It is also necessary for India to develop its economic relationship with Japan as a counterweight to growing Chinese economic dominance in India. The prime minister correctly pointed out that many of the jewels of recent India infrastructure development have been financed and aided by Japan - bridges and the Metro in Delhi, for example, and aspects of the Delhi-Mumbai industrial and freight corridors. Given India's infrastructure deficit, and the good track record of the Japanese in this respect - in conspicuous contrast to the Chinese - it makes solid economic sense to fast-track the needed investment. And, in fact, it is a strategic imperative to have a country with shared interests aid the development of India's crucial infrastructure. Fear of China's ability to provoke a crisis should not hold back the implementation of Mr Abe's sound logic this time, as it has previously.