India and Japan: News and Discussion

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 15 Aug 2014 06:40

Modi to visit Japan from August 31 - Suhasini Haider, The Hindu

In a coordinated statement, Japan and India will announce Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Japan from August 31 to September 3 on Friday.

The announcement is being made after two earlier plans to visit Japan had to be postponed by Mr. Modi, who is keen on making Tokyo one of his first bilateral destinations.

During the visit, Mr. Modi will hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who will host a banquet dinner for him.

High on Mr. Modi’s agenda is the conclusion of the India-Japan civil nuclear agreement, so that Japan could supply nuclear technology to India.

According to a source close to the negotiations, several differences have yet to be ironed out, and it could not be confirmed if the agreement, which has been under negotiation since 2010, will be ready for signing {Most probably, it will not be} .

It is learnt that the Japanese government, that is facing domestic pressure against the deal since India is not a signatory to the NPT, wants extra “conditionalities and safeguards” over the use of nuclear transfers, over and above what India has already agreed to with other countries {This has been a recurring theme. India will never agree to this. The trick is in agreeing to a wordplay that would satisfy both parties. Japan should feel that it has received such a guarantee and India should feel it never agreed to anything special.}.

A Deputy Minister will travel from Tokyo next week as a special envoy to help iron out the differences, while Indian Ambassador to Japan Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa was in Delhi ahead of the announcement of the date for the visit. During the visit, India will also hope to sign agreements for infrastructural investment for the government’s “smart cities” initiative, with Japan proposing project development agreements on high-speed railways, industrial corridors like the DMIC (Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor) and highway construction.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met with her Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the India-ASEAN meeting in Myanmar earlier this week, and sources tell The Hindu, Japan is keen to help India improve road-links and rail-links through the north-eastern States to ASEAN countries.

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 16 Aug 2014 00:26

SSridhar wrote:It is learnt that the Japanese government, that is facing domestic pressure against the deal since India is not a signatory to the NPT, wants extra “conditionalities and safeguards” over the use of nuclear transfers, over and above what India has already agreed to with other countries {This has been a recurring theme. India will never agree to this. The trick is in agreeing to a wordplay that would satisfy both parties. Japan should feel that it has received such a guarantee and India should feel it never agreed to anything special.}.

Japanese coalition politics. Abe's party are not the ones pushing this. The New Komeito coalition partners are being a regular stick in the mud. They are also hampering Japan's attempts to militarize in the face of Chinese threats to Japanese sovereignity.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 16 Aug 2014 05:33

Modi likely to meet China’s Xi Jinping, Japan’s Shinzo Abe in September While Xi Jinping will visit India, Modi will go to Japan to meet Shinzo Abe

Read more at: http://www.livemint.com/Politics/tZ4fHe ... ource=copy

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in early September— just weeks before China’s president Xi Jinping travels to India for talks, amid sharpening rivalries between Asia’s two biggest economies. Officially, neither visit has been announced but foreign ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said on Wednesday that Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to visit India in the third week of September and that both the countries are working to ensure a substantive outcome from the trip. “This will be perhaps in the third week of September. Exact dates will be announced when both the countries are ready,” Akbaruddin said. On Modi’s visit to Japan, Akbaruddin said India and Japan will simultaneously announce the dates on Friday. Japanese media reports have, however, been speculating that Modi will travel to Japan on 31 August with the meeting with Prime Minister Abe scheduled for 1 September.

Key difference between China & Japan w.r.t India

India’s imports from China in 2012-13 stood at $52 billion while exports were at $13.5 billion. Both sides have set a bilateral trade target of $100 billion by 2015.

India-Japan trade in 2013-14 was $16.31 billion and Japanese companies made an investment of $15.35 billion in India between April 2000 and December 2013.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 16 Aug 2014 14:34

MEA has announced NaMo trip to Japan starting 31st August.

http://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.ht ... t+to+Japan

Prime Minister's visit to Japan

August 15, 2014

Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi will pay an official visit to Japan from 31 August to 03 September, 2014. During the visit, Prime Minister will have an audience with His Majesty The Emperor of Japan and will hold the Annual Summit meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

India and Japan have a Strategic and Global Partnership. The visit of Prime Minister to Japan will further strengthen the bonds of friendship between India and Japan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Japan from 31 August to 3 September ahead of a trip later next month to New Delhi by Chinese President Xi Jinping, as the new government in India seeks to rejuvenate relations with Asia’s two biggest economies. “During his stay in Japan, Prime Minister Modi will be received in audience by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, will also hold a meeting and host a dinner for Prime Minister Modi,” the statement said. “The Government of Japan sincerely welcomes the visit of Prime Minister Modi, which will further strengthen the friendly relations between Japan and India,” it added. The Indian ministry of external affairs on Friday issued a similar statement announcing Modi’s visit. “India and Japan have a strategic and global partnership. The visit of Prime Minister to Japan will further strengthen the bonds of friendship between India and Japan,” it added

Read more at: http://www.livemint.com/Politics/FJooEe ... ource=copy

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 18 Aug 2014 10:41

Centre to invite bids for smart cities - Economic Times

Meanwhile, in the Chennai-Bangalore industrial corridor, JICA has taken up master planning for three of the eight nodes - Punderi (Karnataka), Krishnapatnam ( Andhra Pradesh) and Tumkur (Karnataka). "Land acquisition for the new industrial regions is at an advanced stage. Land availability is essential for the corridors, and we are working with the state governments for that," said a DIPP official. Japan has also shown interest in setting up industrial parks in India, on lines of Chinese industrial parks

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 18 Aug 2014 10:48

Japanese investment in smart cities high on Modi's agenda - Suhasini Haider, The Hindu

During his visit to Japan, from August 31 to September 3, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hoping to seal several bilateral agreements.

According to diplomatic sources, these will include infrastructural investment for the government’s “smart cities” initiative, with Japan proposing project development agreements on high-speed railways, more industrial corridors, and road-links and rail-links through the north-eastern States to ASEAN countries as well.

Co-production projects

“More than direct investment and sales, we are encouraging Japanese investors to look at co-production projects,” a senior Cabinet official told The Hindu , in line with Mr. Modi’s Independence Day message of “come, make in India.”

The President of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in India has written to Commerce Secretary Amitabh Kant, seeking “urgent intervention to resolve the issues” in areas including India’s “tax system, banking sector, logistics and distribution segment, visas and the pivotal infrastructure sector,” which are creating hurdles to increased Foreign Direct Investment.

member_28705 · Post by **member_28705** » 18 Aug 2014 11:02

So what are the things we looking at again:
A CEPA
Railways, Freight corridors, Port Development deals, Infrastructure co-operation, Funding
I will support your bid for UNSC, you support mine
Greater defence co-operation
Perhaps a civil nuclear deal
A carbon offset deal
Something in lines of co-operation in smart city development.
Also, a wonderful speech by Modi which will make Abe India's best friend on the lines how India and Japan are great cultures, have great past links and how they need to work together to forge a bright future.

Correct me if I missed something or if I overstated the trivial.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 18 Aug 2014 18:01

KrisP, in addition to what you have posted, I would add,

Infrastructure development in the North-East (roads & railways)
India-Bangladesh-Myanmar-Thailand-Vietnam corridor
Third country infrastructure development (mainly Sri Lanka and possibly Nepal/Bhutan) with funding from JICA
Concrete agreement on a third port at Chennai
Specific announcement on US-2 seaplanes

On the political front, the joint statement would emphasize resolving disputes through negotiations, freedom of navigation in South/East China Sea, respect for international agreements (especially UNCLOS but it won't be mentioned). Japan may also support India's candidature for NSG, Wassenaar, Australia Group and MTCR, it will be a bonus. There could be a mention of a specific Japanese smart city project.

On the nuclear front, I do not foresee a substantial movement.

Rony · Post by **Rony** » 22 Aug 2014 18:11

Interview with The Nikkei, Katsuo Matsumoto, deputy director general of the South Asia Department of the Japan International Cooperation Agency about the state of India's transportation system and the challenges to its improvement, as well as prospects for Japanese businesses.

As India builds its roads and rail, Japan is ready to do business

Ashok Sarraff · Post by **Ashok Sarraff** » 22 Aug 2014 19:28

^^ What does India offer to Japan in return? Mainly an investment opportunity for Japan's idle funds? We should be cautious that we do not become a sole recipient of aid, like (sorry but) Bakis. Respectful relationships develop when there's an equal/equitable give-and-take. Or like Bakis, countries lose their so called sovereignty to the donors.

member_22733 · Post by **member_22733** » 22 Aug 2014 19:50

They will be looking to buy infrastructure bonds or debts for higher yields. Nothing wrong with that. Just plain business.

Neshant · Post by **Neshant** » 23 Aug 2014 07:12

Ashok Sarraff wrote:^^ What does India offer to Japan in return? Mainly an investment opportunity for Japan's idle funds?

That itself is doing Japan a favor.

There are fewer and fewer profitable investment opportunities in the world. Countries are clamouring for such opportunities.

Markets not capital rule the roost at the moment - although I'm sure the pendulum will swing.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 23 Aug 2014 12:30

pandyan, my understanding is that the accepted practice is to call money given on concessional terms as Aid. For example, the lending from IDA (of the World Bank) is treated as 'aid' while lending from IBRD is 'loan'.

nandakumar · Post by **nandakumar** » 23 Aug 2014 15:08

SSridhar wrote:pandyan, my understanding is that the accepted practice is to call money given on concessional terms as Aid. For example, the lending from IDA (of the World Bank) is treated as 'aid' while lending from IBRD is 'loan'.

Also the loans are offeted on extended terms of repayment. Typically thirty years.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 24 Aug 2014 04:21

India & Japan will upgrade talks to Ministerial level - Sachin Parashar, ToI

In a major fillip to their strategic partnership, India and Japan are working to upgrade their 2+2 dialogue mechanism to the ministerial level ahead of PM Narendra Modi's visit to Tokyo.

Under this enhanced dialogue framework, the foreign and defence ministers will together hold annual consultations with their Japanese counterparts over a range of overlapping security and political issues. The 2+2 was launched in 2010 but only at the secretary-vice minister level.

The negotiations, which are likely to conclude before Modi lands in Tokyo on September 31, follow assertions by Japan PM Shinzo Abe in the recent past that the 2 countries needed to deepen their engagement over political and security related issues.

India and Japan have an annual strategic dialogue since 2007 but the 2+2, a format unique to India, was launched 3 years later to intensify strategic cooperation. Japan has the same dialogue with only a few countries including the US and Russia.

Sources here said the negotiations for an upgraded dialogue framework are underway and are likely to end by the time Modi has his summit meeting with Abe. "This is in keeping with the geopolitical reality that India and Japan look at each other as crucial partners for ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,'' said a source.

This, in fact, could be one of the highlights of Modi's visit to Tokyo as Indian presses Japan for a "successful and substantive'' visit. India in the recent past has been concerned over the delay in signing a civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Japan. Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj vented the sentiment before her counterpart Fumio Kishida when she told him during a recent meeting in Myanmar that the 4-year-old negotiations for the same needed to be taken to their logical conclusion.

India and Japan are also looking to conclude negotiations for the sale of US-2 amphibian aircraft to India. As it seeks a more significant security role in the region, in the face of Chinese assertiveness, Japan earlier this year eased its self-imposed ban on export of arms and transfer of defence technology. According to reports in the Japanese media, it may allow India to manufacture parts of the aircraft to facilitate the agreement.

The Modi-Abe summit will also be closely watched in Beijing with Modi set to host Chinese President Xi Jinping weeks after his return from Tokyo. The dispute with China over Senkaku (China calls it Diaoyu) islands and threat from a nuclear armed North Korea forced Japan to create its own National Security Council last year. India acknowledged the development earlier this year when it launched regular consultations between the Secretary-General of National Security Secretariat of Japan and its National Security Advisor.

vic · Post by **vic** » 24 Aug 2014 11:01

Recently it was discovered that whenever amphibian aircraft lands in water then fuel, water, ammunition, spare parts and maintenance equipment miraculously appears then and there. That is why Japanese super costly planes are very important and essential import.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 25 Aug 2014 07:36

X-posted from China management thread
Signal to China? Modi extends Japan trip by one day - Sachin Parashar, ToI

If anybody thought Japan had fallen off PM Narendra Modi's radar after he decided to postpone his visit in July, Modi is more than making up for it. In a sign that Japan remains one of the countries closest to his heart, Modi on Sunday decided to extend his visit to Japan starting later this week by a day.

TOI has learnt that Modi will now depart for Tokyo on August 30, not August 31 as the government had earlier announced, and will visit one more city apart from Tokyo. The extension of the visit could send a bold signal to China.

The PM was earlier scheduled to depart for Tokyo on August 31 and return on September 3. With the change in schedule, Modi will now spend four nights in Japan, the maximum by any Indian PM on a bilateral visit in recent times. The move by Modi, who likes to keep his schedule very tight during visits abroad, is certain to please his admirers in Japan, a country he was on outstanding terms with even as Gujarat CM.

Modi is also known to share a great personal rapport with his counterpart Shinzo Abe, who regularly draws comparison with Modi for his nationalist leanings.

Modi, who has been described by some as India's? Shinzo Abe and others as India's Richard Nixon, will do a tough balancing act next month when he hosts Chinese President Xi Jinping, weeks after his meeting with Abe.

While India and Japan look at each other as important partners for ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, in the face of growing Chinese assertiveness, Modi is also looking at exploring new opportunities with Beijing at least in the form of greater economic engagement, as he told Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in a telephonic conversation after taking over as PM. Li told Modi then that China wanted a more robust partnership with India.

It may be recalled that Modi's predecessor Manmohan Singh too had decided to extend his visit to Japan at the last moment in 2013. Coming as it did just after a standoff over Chinese incursion into Ladakh which lasted for weeks, top government officials? did not shy away from admitting that Singh's decision was by design and meant to send a signal to Beijing.

Modi is hoping for, as foreign minister Sushma Swaraj put it earlier, a successful and substantive visit to Tokyo. While the negotiations for a civil nuclear cooperation agreement continue to linger on, the government is hoping to conclude a deal for purchase of US-2 amphibian aircraft from Japan which, under Abe, has just eased its almost 50-year-old self-imposed ban on arms export and transfer of defence technology. As reported by the Japanese media, Tokyo may allow India to manufacture parts of the military aircraft to execute the deal.

Japan will also be Modi's most important bilateral visit since taking over as PM. With Gujarat now hailed by Japan as a favourite investment destination, as its ambassador Takeshi Yagi put it recently, Modi has enough goodwill he earned there as the state's CM. He has spoken effusively about his experience of working with Japan and tweeted earlier that he wanted to take relations with Japan to newer heights. Abe continues to maintain that the India-Japan bilateral relationship has more potential that any other similar relationship in the world.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 27 Aug 2014 09:39

Modi hails Japan ties, says looking forward to visit - ToI

After he decided to have an extended stay in Japan, his first destination for a bilateral meet outside of the subcontinent, PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed India-Japan relations as "time tested" and said the two vibrant democracies were committed to "advancing peace and prosperity in the world".

In a series of tweets, Modi said he had very warm memories of his visit to the country as Gujarat CM and that he saw the upcoming visit as an opportunity to take India's ties with Japan "to a new level and increase cooperation in various fields".

"Have very warm memories of visiting Japan as a CM. The hospitality and the immense scope for cooperation left a deep impression on my mind. The scale of innovation and level of precision among the people of Japan is admirable. Both our nations can learn a lot from each other," Modi tweeted.

In an official statement, the government had announced that Modi would visit Japan from August 31 to September 3. Modi, however, later decided that he would spend one more day in Japan and visit Kyoto too apart from Tokyo. He will now begin his visit on August 30.

Modi's personal rapport with his counterpart Shinzo Abe has attracted worldwide media attention. Modi said he was particularly excited with the opportunity to meet Abe. "I deeply respect his leadership and enjoy a warm relationship with him from previous meetings," he said.

Modi also tweeted that he could not visit Japan in July because of the then upcoming Parliament session. "I will visit Tokyo and Kyoto and will interact with all sections of Japanese society from students, political leaders to captains of industry," he said.

Modi has been effusive in his praise for Japan and has not been deterred by the fact that next month, soon after his return from Japan, he will host Chinese President Xi Jinping. {What a pathetic statement by ToI reporter. Does Xi Jinping feel deterred when he meets the Indian PM after meeting the Pakistani PM? What is there for India to feel deterred about?}

vivek.rao · Post by **vivek.rao** » 27 Aug 2014 20:28

Modi has been effusive in his praise for Japan and has not been deterred by the fact that next month, soon after his return from Japan, he will host Chinese President Xi Jinping. {What a pathetic statement by ToI reporter. Does Xi Jinping feel deterred when he meets the Indian PM after meeting the Pakistani PM? What is there for India to feel deterred about?}

These moronic News Traders have low esteem, less confidence in our own country.

vic · Post by **vic** » 27 Aug 2014 20:58

Japan stabbed India in the back at the time of Kargill, nuke tests and also after our nuke deal. They CONTINUE to be major financers of China inspite of being ridiculed and insulted by them. Japan is NOT a friend by its conduct though they are very polite when it comes to diplomatic language while they are twisting in the knife.

vic · Post by **vic** » 27 Aug 2014 20:59

We have to engage Japan without rose tinted glasses in a hard nosed manner.

RoyG · Post by **RoyG** » 27 Aug 2014 22:00

Don't blame them Vic. Even "friendly" countries will take advantage of us if we don't have a strong center. This nehruvian era has come to an end. We can't be pushed around any longer.

RoyG · Post by **RoyG** » 28 Aug 2014 00:23

Why did they invest in China? What do you expect them to do? Sit around and wait while we throw out the Gandhi family and get our act together? If you want to have good relations you have to bring something to the table. We need a strong center and identity to be respected.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 28 Aug 2014 08:47

vic wrote:We have to engage Japan without rose tinted glasses in a hard nosed manner.

vic, we have to do so with every country. We don't do that even with Pakistan. IMO, Japan is way below in the list after Pakistan, the US, China, UK et al. None has stabbed us in the back more than the US (after Pakistan that is). The US even egged on China to beat us (both in 1971 & after nuke tests). Such instances are too many to even recall. And yet, what are we doing? Just because we don't play realpolitik, we cannot expect others to do so also.

Japan is facing twin problems, military and economic, and both from China. The only other country that can substitute for China in these matters is India and there is therefore a natural interest among the Japanese. We need investments and technology which Japan can offer. Where is the problem if there is such a natural convergence?

There can be no disagreement that it is India's interests and those interests alone that matter and we have to drive a hard bargain with every country. Hopefully, things are changing. Insh'a Alla'h.

vic · Post by **vic** » 28 Aug 2014 15:49

Dear BRF members, I was just trying to sound a note of caution. But if members are well aware, then it's no doubt a good thing.

anupmisra · Post by **anupmisra** » 28 Aug 2014 15:50

Modi's Strategic Visit to Japan by Bloomberg.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 28 Aug 2014 17:11

Modi eyes breakthrough nuclear pact on Japan trip - Reuters, ToI

India is hoping to win Japanese backing for a nuclear energy pact during a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and lure investment into its $85 billion market while addressing Japan's concern about nuclear proliferation.

India has been pushing for an agreement with Japan on the lines of a 2008 deal with the United States under which India was allowed to import US nuclear fuel and technology without giving up its military nuclear programme.

But Japan wants explicit guarantees from India, which has not signed the international Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, to strictly limit nuclear tests and to allow more intrusive inspections of its nuclear facilities to ensure that spent fuel is not diverted to make bombs.

India, which sees its weapons as a deterrent against nuclear-armed neighbours China and Pakistan, has sought to meet Japan's concerns and over the past month the two sides have speeded up negotiations ahead of Modi's visit.

"Serious efforts are being made to resolve any special concerns that Japan has. Whether it will be fully resolved and ready for signing before the end of the PM's trip is unclear," said a former member of India's top atomic energy commission who has been consulted in the drafting of the energy pact.

Modi and Abe will not seal an agreement at next week's summit, TV Tokyo reported on Thursday, but the meeting will be closely watched for any progress toward a pact.

Japanese officials were tight-lipped about prospects for a nuclear deal.

Modi travels to Japan on Saturday for a five-day visit, his first major bilateral trip since taking over in May. The visit is being billed as an attempt by the two democracies to balance the rising weight of China across Asia.

Modi and host Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are also expected to strengthen defence ties, speeding up talks on the sale of an amphibious aircraft to the Indian navy.

Abe is keen to expand Japan's network of security partnerships with countries such as Australia and India to cope with the challenge presented by China.

The two leaders will agree to have their countries jointly produce mixed rare earth minerals and metals, key elements in defence industry components and modern technology {Let's recall that four years back when China suddenly banned export of RE, it was India that came to Japan's help. Japan removed some Indian entities off its 'ban list'. Recently, WTO has said that China cannot ban the exports and it was illegal. We have to see what China will do next on this issue}, the Nikkei business daily said on Thursday.

Another focus is infrastructure, with the Indian leader seeking Japanese backing for the high-speed 'bullet' trains he promised to voters in his election campaign.

But it is the nuclear pact that could transform ties in a way the deal with the United States did by establishing India as a strategic partner, although nuclear commerce with the United States has since floundered because of concern over India's liability laws.

Japanese companies are also reluctant to step in without clarity on nuclear disaster compensation, especially in the wake of the Fukushima catastrophe of March 2011, the world's worst since Chernobyl in 1986.

'FOUNDATIONS'

A civil nuclear energy pact with India would give Japanese nuclear technology companies such as Toshiba Corp and Hitachi Ltd access to India's fast-growing market as they seek opportunities overseas to offset a backlash at home in response to the Fukushima disaster.

India operates 20 mostly small reactors at six sites with a capacity of 4,780 MW, or 2 percent of its total power capacity, according to the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited. The government hopes to increase its nuclear capacity to 63,000 MW by 2032 by adding nearly 30 reactors.

India is considering a Japanese proposal for a separate commitment not to test nuclear weapons over and above a self-imposed moratorium it declared after testing in 1998.

Another possibility is that Modi gives a personal assurance to Abe on India's nuclear weapons programme to help allay concern in Japan, the only country to have suffered a nuclear attack and which has since been a champion of non-proliferation and disarmament. {I do not believe that any Indian PM would agree to either of these.}

"India and Japan are laying the foundations of a bigger deal," said former vice chief of Indian army Lieutenant General A.S. Lamba, an expert on ties with Japan.

"It's no use rushing into something that fails to get off the ground, which is what happened to the India-US agreement. This is being constructed slowly. This is a defining moment."

Yagnasri · Post by **Yagnasri** » 28 Aug 2014 17:25

NM will not be in a position to give any commitment for further testing etc. SB is not a pacifist and knows that Indian nukes do not threat Japan. He has till date to restore Japanese security posture to a more pragmatic levels. He further knows China only respects power and preventing nuclear/ strategic flexibility of India is not in Japan's interest as it allows China to become a master of Asia with Japan as its Saamath. So he may not be too keen on asking anything from India. It is in both the nations interests the help each other forgetting the nuclear mulla dramas of west.

RoyG · Post by **RoyG** » 28 Aug 2014 19:27

Narayana Rao wrote:NM will not be in a position to give any commitment for further testing etc. SB is not a pacifist and knows that Indian nukes do not threat Japan. He has till date to restore Japanese security posture to a more pragmatic levels. He further knows China only respects power and preventing nuclear/ strategic flexibility of India is not in Japan's interest as it allows China to become a master of Asia with Japan as its Saamath. So he may not be too keen on asking anything from India. It is in both the nations interests the help each other forgetting the nuclear mulla dramas of west.

Japan being a Buddhist nation with high technology will be our natural partner. It will truly be an Indian century especially if Modi can quickly clinch the nuclear and trade deal. They will need to test a bomb eventually. Perhaps, we can also help them along in that process.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 28 Aug 2014 22:05

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BwGxbpDCQAEjaab.png
Abe Patel?

Kashi · Post by **Kashi** » 29 Aug 2014 05:18

RoyG wrote:Japan being a Buddhist nation with high technology will be our natural partner. It will truly be an Indian century especially if Modi can quickly clinch the nuclear and trade deal. They will need to test a bomb eventually. Perhaps, we can also help them along in that process.

Japan is not a Buddhist nation, "full-time" Buddhists form a small percentage of the population. Most Japanese are- for a lack of better word- "areligious" (not atheists) and their personal beliefs are largely that-personal. Religion is largely peripheral, except for few who subscribe to Abrahamic faiths.

Majority of Japanese have a affinity for their belief system known as Shinto and most of the rituals they do follow are predominantly of Shinto-disposition with a smattering of Buddhism.

It is often remarked- by Japanese themselves- that Japanese are born as Shinto, get married as Christians and die as Buddhists!

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 29 Aug 2014 06:52

lets take a look at the sequence. Chinese Premier is visiting right after Modi' return from Japan. IF Japan fails India by not negotiating Nuclear trade deal in good faith then they might as well soon start learning Chinese language to take the order correctly from dominating Beijing. Both Russia and China will not waste this chance of taking India in full SCO and BRIC bear hug. Partner India is their second last chance of being Asian power with semblance of independence. It will be plain crazy to disappoint Modi on this visit and waste of last 7-8 years of diplomatic Kathak.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 29 Aug 2014 07:46

Great Expectations from Modi's Japan Visit - The Hindu

India has “great expectations” from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s five-day visit to Japan from Saturday, his first bilateral trip outside the subcontinent.

Underlining the importance of the East Asian region, Mr. Modi’s visit to Japan will be followed by a Vietnam trip by President Pranab Mukherjee in September. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj just concluded a visit to Vietnam.

External Affairs Ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said Mr. Modi’s engagement with the Japanese leadership would be “not only about bilateral ties.” Enhanced military ties, a deeper strategic engagement, business-to-business ties, Japanese assistance in creating smart cities in India and nuclear issues would all be on the agenda.

Asked why Kyoto had been added to Mr. Modi’s itinerary, Mr. Akbaruddin said the Prime Minister was interested in rejuvenating Indian cities on the lines of Kyoto. Some features of Kyoto could be adopted in Varanasi, the Prime Minister’s Lok Sabha constituency.

Business meetings

Top business leaders, including Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani and Kumar Mangalam Birla, will travel separately to Japan in visits timed to coincide with high-level business interactions Mr. Modi will initiate with his Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 29 Aug 2014 07:50

Jhujar wrote:lets take a look at the sequence. Chinese Premier is visiting right after Modi' return from Japan. IF Japan fails India by not negotiating Nuclear trade deal in good faith then they might as well soon start learning Chinese language to take the order correctly from dominating Beijing.

Do I see a streak of Jinnah's famous "you need us more than we need you" here ? That would be disastrous, as it has been for STFUP.

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 29 Aug 2014 08:16

Questioning Japanese motives on the basis of their economic engagement with China is a bad approach. They are pragmatic folks. They had the capital and technology, and China offered them a low cost base, a market, and a faciliatory business environment. It may have changed recently, as the Chinese economy grew and they conveniently remembered all of the past Japanese slights again.

But go back to the late 1980s and early 1990s, and you'll see that Deng and others made a very hard headed decision that when the Japanese offered them mutually beneficial economic gains, they would be stupid to reject that for nationalism. Several oldtimers rejected Deng's efforts to woo Japanese investment, calling him a weak turncoat without pride. Having gained in economic and military might now, they're in far greater position to threaten Japan, partly due to Japan itself bankrolling their development through heavy investment.

It provides a lesson for India. Talk is cheap. Bluster can be expensive when it leads to decisions to forego the chance to develop, and thereby strengthen oneself to such an extent to be a real threat or challenger to an old foe. The important thing is to remember to retain your interests paramount, but otherwise focus on accepting deals that gain you long term comprehensive national power .

The Japanese expect certain procedures in business. They don't like undue delay. They take time to generate a consensus, but once they do, they expect to be able to act, without being impeded by whimsical rules, regulations and temporary political nautanki. The Koreans are more patient than them, willing to put up with years of delay in POSCO, for example. Talking of POSCO, for all of Korea's recent enmity with Japan, the seeds of their early development under Park were sown using Japanese money and technology, including the creation of POSCO itself - created using money from Japan, and technology from Nippon Steel.

On the matter of nukes, it must be remembered that Japan are the only country to have been attacked by them. They will retain a vigorous anti nuke lobby, including political alliance partners like the New Komeito who are peaceniks, for a long time.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 29 Aug 2014 08:43

Easaku Sato was very reluctant to sign NPT as he had a program going. The 1968 cutoff date was to secure Japan and Germany's assent for the NPT. As KS garu said it didnt impact India as it did not sign the treaty.

Pulikeshi · Post by **Pulikeshi** » 29 Aug 2014 09:22

Suraj wrote:They are pragmatic folks...

vs.

On the matter of nukes, it must be remembered that Japan are the only country to have been attacked by them. They will retain a vigorous anti nuke lobby, including political alliance partners like the New Komeito who are peaceniks, for a long time.

That is really the question for Japan is it not?
If they do not make progress now, it may be that such a chance will not come for a long time to come -
In general, the idea of blessing such deals onlee with the UPA, but not with the NDA is very manipulative - I hope I am wrong.

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 29 Aug 2014 10:35

Their non-proliferation stance in 1998 did not cost them anything because they were in the NSG who forbade sales to India, and served to give peacenik LDP alliance partners a voice in 1998. Now, with NSG more amenable to supply to us, IMHO their current opposition stems mainly from the fact that the New Komeito are Abe's alliance partner. Japanese domestic politics is remarkably volatile, and if Abe is to stamp a long term legacy he needs to survive a full term at least. What helps him, is that the LDP has a simple majority of the Diet, so he should still be able to decide in favor of an agreement, despite the opposition of his alliance partner. LDP has 294 seats in the 480 seat house, with the alliance itself constituting 328 seats. Therefore, Abe is in a similarly strong position as Modi.

Victor · Post by **Victor** » 29 Aug 2014 11:30

Kashi wrote: Japan is not a Buddhist nation, "full-time" Buddhists form a small percentage of the population....

Majority of Japanese have a affinity for their belief system known as Shinto and most of the rituals they do follow are predominantly of Shinto-disposition with a smattering of Buddhism.

Incorrect. Overwhelming majority of Japanese identify themselves as Buddhists--90+ million out of 127 million. Most continue to practice a mixture of Shinto and Mahayana Buddhism based more on philosophy than religious intent in spite of a 19th century law that separated them. It is pure Shinto that is practiced by a minority. They do consider themselves 'irreligious' however.

RKumar · Post by **RKumar** » 29 Aug 2014 12:09

Modi's visit will show us and the world how far Japan are willing to go to counter China.

Personally, I expect Japan should offer

1. Japan will strengthen Indian hand by signing Nuclear pact without insisting on having access to our military nuclear installations or NPT etc.
2. Provide bullet train technology, as importing it from Japan will be prohibitive expensive.

India should offer
1. Greater access to our huge resources and market to the Japanese businesses
2. Relaxed and fast implementation of different proposals.
3. A mutual defense military pact and greater co-operation

If these are not done, then Japan and India have to fight their own individual fights against the common threat. I hope common sense prevails.