India-Japan QUAD: Geopolitics is quite a game, neither are there permanent enemies nor permanent friends, only permanent interest exists. The changing geopolitical scenario in the Indo-pacific is a classic textbook analysis of the aforementioned policy. Evidently, Japan, which was the greatest enemy of the United States way back in the World War era, had been taken care of militarily by the US for decades, since the conclusion of the war in 1945.
However, the growing strength of the Chinese coupled with their expansionist approach and the debacle of NATO hegemony at the hands of Russia in the Ukraine war has forced the Japanese to reinforce their arsenal.
Consequently, amidst the galloping tensions with China, Japan has made a decision to deepen its ties with India. In view of the unrest with China, Japan has recently launched the new National Security Policy. The policy is in concurrence with the contemporary conduct of Japan which motivated it to be a part of initiatives like the Quad with America, Australia, and India.
In tune with the ongoing foreign policy to further expand cooperation with like-minded nations, Japan claims to be stepping up its security cooperation with India, Republic of Korea, Europe and other ASEAN countries.
India-Japan to alter the Power structure of Indo-Pacific
The Indo-Pacific region is dominated by the rivalry of the United States and China, with nations like Japan, Australia and India playing the second fiddle to the later. However, the recent move is significant for a variety of reasons as it would alter the power structure of the Indo-Pacific region. As per the new defense strategy, Japan plans to vehemently oppose China’s expansionist policy, amidst the rising efforts by the Chinese to forcibly change the status quo in the region around Indo-Pacific and also along the LAC with India.
Japan, which had more of a critique role till now, is all determined to respond to the Chinese threat in a composed yet resolute manner. Therefore, the country seeks to join hands with India in a military partnership and transform the strategic relation to a more heightened brotherhood to tackle China.
Evidently, the creation of a “retaliation capacity,” which Japan has described as “inevitable,” is the biggest modification to the nation’s overall defense plan. The ability to “destroy and intercept an attack against the nation much earlier and much farther away” is now Japan’s stated goal and the milestone can be significant factor in luring Japan towards India against the common enemy China.
New Defense Strategy of Japan
To meet the needs of defense preparedness, the Japanese have decided to double their defense expenditure. That is to say, with the new policy in place, the Japanese security and military strategies will not only undergo significant shifts. In return, it would also reduce the country’s dependence on the United States for security from the foreign threats of China, and North Korea.
The new scheme throws light on the fact that Japan has established a goal of doubling defense spending to achieve 2% of GDP. The country is planning to spend $320 billion on defense by 2027. Such a monumental increment in the defense policy would therefore, land Japan military expenditure to the third place, after China and America, at the cost of an additional $ 73 billion per year.
However, the move is more important from an Indian perspective as the same policy document points out that Japan views India as a significant strategic partner. More prominently, from defense perspective, Japan, which has till now been dependent on the United States for the security and military alliance, is looking optimistically towards India, for military partnership.
Also Read: A China-Japan War looks like a-possibility and Japan will have QUAD on its side
Renewed Indo-Japan Partnership beyond the foul play of US
In light of the growing strength of the defense sector of India, which has recently boasted defense exports to other nations, the policy would not only brag the strategic partnership of the two nations but also put the two nations in the bracket of military partnership. On the other hand, it also depicts that even the Japanese have understood the hypocrisy of the USA, which has significantly failed the people of Ukraine in general and the US-Ukraine moral obligation to be precise.
The Japanese therefore, wish to move beyond the umbrella of the West and US. They wish to redefine the existing well-established foreign policy with India and tackle China in the Indo-Pacific region.
That is to say, with Australia being an insignificant partner and reducing trust bestowed on the US, which has a habit of pampering the enemies of fellow nations, the QUAD would be transformed with India and Japan emerging as key players in bringing down the Chinese in the times to come.
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