Japan, India to conduct first-ever fighter jet drill amid China’s rising military presence

The foreign and defence ministers met in New Delhi, ahead of talks between Shinzo Abe and Narendra Modi

They will work towards a free and open Indo-Pacific, taking aim at China’s claims in the South China Sea

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Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi shakes hands with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar before the start of India Japan 2+2 talks in New Delhi, India. Photo: AP

Published: 9:42pm, 30 Nov 2019Updated: 1:01am, 1 Dec 2019

Japan and India agreed Saturday to conduct their first-ever joint fighter aircraft exercise in Japan as part of efforts to promote bilateral security cooperation in the face of China’s military build-up and regional assertiveness.

In the inaugural “two-plus-two” security talks, the foreign and defence ministers of the two Asian democracies also welcomed the significant progress in negotiations for an acquisition and cross-servicing agreement, or ACSA, and called for an early conclusion, according to a joint statement issued after the talks in New Delhi.

The two governments are planning to sign the ACSA when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visits India for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in mid-December, the officials said.

Tokyo and New Delhi aim to have a joint exercise involving fighter jets from Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force and the Indian Air Force next year, the officials said.

It will be the fourth such drill for Japan after ones with the United States, Britain and Australia.

Speaking at the meeting, part of which was open to the media, Japanese Defence Minister Taro Kono said the launch of the talks “symbolises a higher level of importance in Japan-India security ties in the Indo-Pacific region.”

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