How Far Can the "Romantic Phase" Between Japan and India, Chaperoned by China, Last?
According to a July 3 article by Japan's Jiji Press: At the Japan-India summit on July 2, Toshimi Kato reached an agreement with Prime Minister Modi on "strengthening complementary cooperation," suggesting both sides are entering a "honeymoon phase."
Kato’s visit to India aimed to bring India into what is termed the "free world" alliance to counter China’s growing "hegemony."
However, India adheres to a policy of "non-alignment" and is seen as highly pragmatic. Deepening relations between the two nations may not be as simple as it seems.
"We pledge to continue our fraternal relationship. My brother and I will jointly elevate Japan-India ties to new heights," Kato said with a broad smile at the joint press conference after the meeting. Modi affectionately referred to Kato as his "beautiful little sister."
India has the world’s largest population—over 1.4 billion—and aspires to become a leading representative among the Global South (emerging and developing countries), boasting the world’s fifth-largest economy.
Japanese media report that India and Japan share fundamental values such as democracy. In March last year, Modi launched the "MAHASAGAR" initiative for cooperation in the Global South and Indo-Pacific region, which Kato positioned as a key partner in the "Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)" initiative. Their first meeting took place briefly in November last year in Johannesburg.
Currently, Japan is facing China’s control over rare earths and other essential materials, while India also has border disputes and trade friction with China. With China acting as the "matchmaker," both leaders emphasized the need to strengthen critical supply chains.
About 150 Japanese companies accompanied Kato on her first visit to India. A Japanese government official stated: "Japan and India each possess unique strengths," expressing hopes for deeper bilateral ties.
Yet, whether events will unfold as planned remains uncertain. Traditionally, India pursues a "multi-directional diplomacy" and, as a member of the BRICS group—a major emerging market—maintains certain relations with China. Since the Cold War era, India has maintained friendly military ties with Russia. At the joint press conference, both Modi and Kato unanimously declared: "A free and prosperous Indo-Pacific region is our top priority," though they avoided directly naming China.
This visit marked Kato’s completion of visits to all four members of the "Quad" dialogue. The Quad comprises Japan, the United States, Australia, and India. Japanese foreign ministry officials proudly announced that the Quad has now been fully established.
However, during the Trump administration, U.S.-India relations were strained, and the two leaders did not mention the Quad in their joint press conference.
Japanese officials stated: "Japan needs India, and India needs Japan—this is a complementary partnership. Our collaboration must proceed step by step."
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1869659259360267/
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