A Strategy to Take Advantage of the Japan-US-India Framework

Published in Nihon Keizai Shimbun
(Japan) on 2 October 2014
by Editorial (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Stephanie Sanders. Edited by Helaine Schweitzer.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the United States, where he met with President Obama and agreed on a plan to hold a trilateral foreign ministers’ meeting that would include Japan. Ever since the United States, Japan and India agreed at the Japan-India summit held in September in Tokyo that a meeting should be held, the three countries appear to be in step with each other and will discuss a strategy to develop a framework for regional stability.

According to a joint statement, American and Indian leaders discussed strengthening U.S. technology cooperation with the Indian navy. The details are unclear, but the focus of the discussion is believed to have been technical support geared at the construction of domestic aircraft carriers sought by India.

In particular, Prime Minister Modi and President Obama confirmed the importance of freedom of flight and navigation with regard to the dispute among China, Vietnam and the Philippines over sovereignty in the South China Sea. At the same time, the two leaders pressed for problem resolution through peaceful measures.

In the South China Sea, China is claiming sovereignty according to its own logic over almost the entire region, ignoring opposition from related countries, and strengthening its effective control. China is once again heightening its presence in the Indian Ocean, prompting India to be on its guard.

The posture of U.S. and India leaders could be described as one of restraint regarding China's accelerated ocean expansion. The United States, Japan and India are creating a framework for regional stability in an effort to keep an eye on China.

While China builds its national power, it is natural that Japan, the U.S. and India — which have freedom and democracy in common — increase their cooperation. Nonetheless, each country has a deep, interdependent economic relationship with China, so they must avoid crossing the line and causing antagonism.

In particular, India has pinned its hopes on China regarding the cultivation of the manufacturing industry and control of inflation, which holds the key to future economic growth. China's President Xi Jinping has already visited India, and he lost no time in meeting with Prime Minister Modi within six months of Modi’s inauguration.

As for Modi, it is likely he wishes to attract the technology and capital India needs for economic development from Japan, the United States and China under the most advantageous conditions. Based on such ulterior motives, Japan must strategically deepen its relationship with India.


日米印の枠組み生かす戦略を
2014/10/2付

 インドのモディ首相が訪米してオバマ大統領と会談し、日本を交えた3カ国の外相会合を開く方針で一致した。9月に東京で開いた日印首脳会談でも開催を目指すことで合意していたので、3カ国の足並みがそろった形だ。地域の安定に役立つ枠組みとして生かしていく戦略が問われる。

 共同声明によると、米印の両首脳は米国のインド海軍への技術協力を強化することを話し合った。詳細は不明だが、インドがめざす国産空母の建造に向けた技術支援が焦点だったとみられる。

 両首脳は特に、領有権などをめぐって中国とベトナム、フィリピンなどが対立している南シナ海について、航行と飛行の自由の重要性を確認した。同時に平和的な手段での問題解決を促した。

 南シナ海では、中国が独自の論理を掲げてほぼ全域に対する主権を主張し、関係国の反対を無視して実効支配を強めている。中国はまたインド洋でも存在感を高めていて、インドの警戒を引き起こしている。

 加速している中国の海洋進出に対し、米印首脳はけん制する構えを示したといえる。日米印の枠組み作りも、中国をにらんだ取り組みと位置づけられる。

 中国が国力を高める中、自由と民主主義を共有する日米印が協力を深めるのは自然で、必要なことだ。とはいえ各国とも中国とは経済面で深い相互依存関係にあり、対抗ばかりに軸足を置いた路線は避けなければならない。

 特にインドは、これからの経済成長のカギを握るインフラの整備や製造業の育成などで中国に期待を寄せている。すでに中国の習近平国家主席もインドを訪れ、就任から半年たたないモディ首相との会談を早々と実現している。

 モディ首相としては、日米中の3カ国から最大限に有利な条件で経済発展に必要な資金や技術を取り込みたいところだろう。そんな思惑も踏まえながら、日本はインドとの関係を戦略的に深めていかなければならない。
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