Strategic Balance in the Indo-Pacific: India Strengthens Japan Ties as it Prepares to Engage China
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi concludes a high-impact diplomatic visit to Japan and prepares to travel to Tianjin for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, India’s regional balancing act has come sharply into focus. Amid strained ties with the United States over energy trade and tariffs, New Delhi is signalling a renewed intent to stabilise ties with Beijing--even as it accelerates strategic convergence with Tokyo. Image Source: PM NaMo India’s outreach to Japan is not new. The bilateral relationship has seen consistent growth over the last decade, with Japan emerging as one of India’s most significant investors in infrastructure, green energy, and high-technology sectors. However, this year’s summit--held in Tokyo on August 29--carried added diplomatic weight. The leaders of India and Japan unveiled a 10-year strategic roadmap, signed key agreements in energy, innovation, and defence cooperation, and set an ambitious ¥10 trillion ($67 billion) investment target fo...