https://www.scmp.com/rss/327529/feed Dr Rupakjyoti Borah is a senior research fellow at the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies, Tokyo. His forthcoming book is The Strategic Relations between India, the United States and Japan in the Indo-Pacific: When Three is Not a Crowd. He has also authored two other books. He has been a visiting fellow at the University of Cambridge, the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA), Japan, and the Australian National University. Twitter @rupakj en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com The Japanese cabinet has recently approved a proposal that allows for the export of its next-generation fighter jets, developed with the United Kingdom and Italy, to third countries. This marks a break from the past as Japan’s pacifist constitution had forbidden the export of offensive weapons. Japan has long been looking at ways to reduce the export controls on its arms exports. In December last year, the cabinet loosened some restrictions by revising the three principles on the export of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3260013/japans-latest-military-gamble-reflects-changing-security-landscape?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3260013/japans-latest-military-gamble-reflects-changing-security-landscape?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Apr 2024 09:45:18 +0000 The massive new draft defence outlay proposed by Japan is a move many analysts thought would come sooner or later. So when the Kishida administration agreed to allocate 43 trillion yen (US$323.4 billion) for defence spending between 2023 and 2027 – a 50 per cent increase from the current five-year budget – it means Tokyo finally has decided to bite the bullet. When this budget is approved by the Japanese parliament, Tokyo will use it to purchase US-made Tomahawks while its home-grown Mitsubishi... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3204695/japans-defence-spending-boost-inevitable-face-security-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3204695/japans-defence-spending-boost-inevitable-face-security-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Dec 2022 13:30:08 +0000 A flotilla of 10 Chinese and Russian warships nearly completed a circle around Japan’s main island of Honshu during the first joint China-Russia patrol in the Western Pacific last month. This deployment came after the two countries completed a joint naval exercise in waters near Russia’s Peter the Great Gulf. Japanese Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi noted: “This is the first time we have confirmed activity on such a large scale and over such a long period. We believe this was a show of force... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3154704/china-russia-naval-exercises-show-japans-troubles-could-come-twos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3154704/china-russia-naval-exercises-show-japans-troubles-could-come-twos?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Nov 2021 17:30:13 +0000 The coronavirus pandemic has laid bare the challenges faced by the health systems of many countries as they respond to this once-in-a-century event. India, for one, has been struck by a deadly second wave and countries across the world have come to its aid. Of special interest has been the help received from the other Quad countries. The Quad – or the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue grouping which comprises India, Australia, Japan and the United States – has seen tremendous progress in recent... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3135038/indias-covid-19-second-wave-test-quad-commitment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3135038/indias-covid-19-second-wave-test-quad-commitment?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 May 2021 22:45:09 +0000 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Bangladesh, his first foreign visit since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, marked an important step forward in warming bilateral ties. Under the governments of Modi and Sheikh Hasina, relations are at an all-time high and many border disputes have been settled amicably. The two countries signed a landmark land border agreement in 2015 and have also agreed on a maritime border after accepting the arbitration verdict under the United Nations... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/asia/article/3129047/why-india-bangladesh-economic-relations-are-their-warmest-yet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/asia/article/3129047/why-india-bangladesh-economic-relations-are-their-warmest-yet?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Apr 2021 01:45:17 +0000 The year 2020 was not a good one for the Japanese economy. It was battered by the Covid-19 pandemic, as were many other economies in the region. While Japan’s economy did show some signs of recovery in the third quarter, it seems to be too early for comfort. The “Go To Travel” Campaign, which was one of the highlights of the government’s strategy to tackle the economic slump following the coronavirus outbreak, has been suspended until January 11 on account of the recent spike in Covid-19 cases.... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3116093/japan-seeking-signs-optimism-amid-dire-news-economy-and-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3116093/japan-seeking-signs-optimism-amid-dire-news-economy-and-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Jan 2021 14:30:12 +0000 Reports show Japan’s economy grew 5 per cent in the third quarter, which marks a remarkable turnaround for the world’s third-largest economy. There are a number of reasons for this. First, the jump has been attributed to increases in domestic demand and exports. This means the stimulus package announced by the Japanese government earlier this year seems to have worked. Earlier this year, then prime minister Shinzo Abe announced an economic package worth close to 108 trillion yen (US$1 trillion),... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3110723/how-rcep-and-domestic-demand-are-boosting-japans-hopes-economic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3110723/how-rcep-and-domestic-demand-are-boosting-japans-hopes-economic?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Nov 2020 07:15:13 +0000 Recent data released by India’s national statistical office reveals that its GDP contracted by a record 23.9 per cent year on year during the April-June quarter. This is, no doubt, a big blow to the economy, which had been showing signs of a slowdown even before the coronavirus-induced lockdown. So what led to this huge drop in gross domestic product? There are a lot of systemic factors at work. First, it means that the key engines of growth – domestic consumption, private investment, government... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3101800/covid-19-giving-india-rare-chance-remake-its-economy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3101800/covid-19-giving-india-rare-chance-remake-its-economy?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Sep 2020 02:45:10 +0000 The sudden resignation of Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, Shinzo Abe, has come as a shock not only to residents of Japan, but to observers across the world. It is also a bolt from the blue for India, which has always held a special place in Abe’s heart. He was due to hold a virtual summit with his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, in early September. It would have been an opportunity for the two leaders to take stock of the state of relations in the wake of the Sino-Indian border clash,... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3099392/shinzo-abes-resignation-india-loses-its-best-friend-and-ally-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3099392/shinzo-abes-resignation-india-loses-its-best-friend-and-ally-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Aug 2020 06:45:08 +0000 As tensions continue on the Sino-Indian border, New Delhi has started acquiring six more US-made P-8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft. One of the fastest growing aspects of the Indo-US bilateral relationship is the defence ties between the two. New Delhi is exploring more sources for its weapons imports, which itself is a big change from when the country singularly depended on supplies from the former Soviet Union and Russia, its successor state. It has bought a wide array of US-made weapon... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3097544/indias-china-fears-give-new-impetus-us-defence-ties-arms-sales?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3097544/indias-china-fears-give-new-impetus-us-defence-ties-arms-sales?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Aug 2020 17:00:10 +0000 On July 3, the Japanese government presented a new growth strategy to tackle the requirements of the post-coronavirus era. It seeks to promote “cashless payments and diverse workstyles”, among other things. One way to do so would be by slashing interbank transfer fees, seen as an impediment to cashless transactions. In addition, the Abe government is toying with a series of other measures to boost the economy in the aftermath of the coronavirus setback. Since the fiasco on board the Diamond... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3092294/how-coronavirus-may-change-japan-good?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3092294/how-coronavirus-may-change-japan-good?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Jul 2020 02:30:07 +0000 India’s reserve bank governor recently announced that the nation’s economy is expected to contract in 2020-2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic. This is no surprise with the country facing severe economic headwinds. On top of that, many Indians working abroad have lost their jobs, particularly in the Gulf states, which will strongly affect remittances. India is the world’s largest source of migrant workers, and almost 8.5 million are based in the Gulf. The World Bank expects remittances to... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3086739/indian-worker-exodus-gulf-chance-wean-economy-remittances?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3086739/indian-worker-exodus-gulf-chance-wean-economy-remittances?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Jun 2020 02:30:14 +0000 With Japan extending its state of emergency till May 31, it seems that the country is preparing for the long haul in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Initially, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had declared a state of emergency to cover seven prefectures on April 7, extending it to the entire country on April 16, in a move to cut down on the movement of people during the “golden week” holidays. Japan’s fight against Covid-19 got off to a slow start: the country had initially only barred the... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3083699/will-coronavirus-pandemic-derail-japans-economy-it-extends?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3083699/will-coronavirus-pandemic-derail-japans-economy-it-extends?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 May 2020 14:00:16 +0000 As part of a record economic stimulus of 108 trillion yen (US$989 billion), unveiled in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Japan has earmarked 220 billion yen for companies that shift production away from China back to the country and 23.5 billion yen for those seeking to move production lines to other countries. This comes even as a nationwide state of emergency has been declared, bringing into sharp focus the growing number of coronavirus cases. Earlier, the government had declared a state... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3081581/how-coronavirus-pandemic-could-cool-china-japan-ties-us-takes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3081581/how-coronavirus-pandemic-could-cool-china-japan-ties-us-takes?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2020 07:30:11 +0000 As China reels from the impact of Covid-19, many are asking: does India have an opportunity to emerge as an alternative global manufacturing hub? That is easier said than done, for a host of reasons. First, Indian manufacturing is tailored to the domestic market and it takes time to make the changes that will allow manufacturers to ramp up production for an international audience. Second, only some locations in India are suitable for large-scale production, and there are logistical challenges in... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3076198/if-india-wants-challenge-china-global-manufacturing-hub-it-will?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3076198/if-india-wants-challenge-china-global-manufacturing-hub-it-will?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2020 01:30:15 +0000 As Japan recorded a third death among passengers who were on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship, the limitations of Tokyo’s response to the outbreak are becoming clear; it has all been very ad hoc. Japan initially imposed an entry ban only on Chinese passport-holders from Hubei province (whose capital, Wuhan, is where the outbreak started) and foreigners who had been in Hubei up to 14 days before. The ban was later extended to include the neighbouring Chinese province of Zhejiang but it was... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3052283/japan-caught-out-covid-19-tokyo-olympics-will-be-challenge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3052283/japan-caught-out-covid-19-tokyo-olympics-will-be-challenge?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Feb 2020 03:00:10 +0000 The number of tourists from mainland China visiting Japan has steadily increased over the years. This is good news for Japan and its economy but also carries risks. Amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, Tokyo will have to address this key question: Are the record numbers of Chinese tourists too much of an economic (and maybe a political) risk for Tokyo? In 2018, around 8.38 million mainland Chinese tourists visited Japan and spent big – more than 1.5 trillion yen (US$13.7 billion), close to 34... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3049584/japans-successful-wooing-chinese-tourists-may-be-too-much-good?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3049584/japans-successful-wooing-chinese-tourists-may-be-too-much-good?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Feb 2020 03:00:11 +0000 Japan’s Ministry of Defence has requested a record 5.32 trillion yen (US$50.5 billion) for the next financial year. If approved, this will be the eighth straight year-on-year increase in Tokyo’s defence spending and represents a 1.2 per cent increase over the previous year. So, what’s behind the increase? To begin with, there is the North Korea factor. Of late, North Korea has been testing a series of missiles at regular intervals. While these are short- and medium-range missiles and have not... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3025668/china-target-japans-record-busting-defence-budget?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3025668/china-target-japans-record-busting-defence-budget?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Sep 2019 23:00:05 +0000 At last month’s G20 summit in Osaka, India once again took part in two trilateral meetings – one with Japan and the United States, the other with China and Russia. The first focused on “how the three countries can work together towards an open, stable and rule-based Indo-Pacific region”, according to India’s External Affairs Ministry. The latter, meanwhile, provided an important opportunity for “the world’s leading economies [to have an] exchange of views … on the economic, political and... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3018184/not-us-not-china-india-holds-cards-indo-pacific?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3018184/not-us-not-china-india-holds-cards-indo-pacific?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Jul 2019 23:00:10 +0000 It is hard to overstate the significance of the recent agreement between India and Japan to help Sri Lanka develop its Colombo Port. Under the deal to develop the East Container Terminal, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority will retain 100 per cent ownership of the terminal, while Sri Lanka will hold a 51 per cent stake in the Terminal Operations Company with the India-Japan joint venture retaining the remaining 49 per cent. Both the timing of the deal and its terms are conspicuous. After all, Sri... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/geopolitics/article/3013254/did-japan-and-india-just-launch-counter-chinas-belt-and-road?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/geopolitics/article/3013254/did-japan-and-india-just-launch-counter-chinas-belt-and-road?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Jun 2019 23:15:10 +0000 China’s decision to support Pakistan-based terror chief Masood Azhar being sanctioned by the United Nations has been attributed to various factors, including Beijing’s concerns about being isolated diplomatically as fears of global terrorism rise. But it also reflects the strong push on the issue by the United States, both openly and behind closed doors. Masood, the leader of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed that bombed and killed 40 Indian troops in the disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir on... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3009415/will-us-reward-china-sacrificing-pakistani-terrorist-masood-azhar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3009415/will-us-reward-china-sacrificing-pakistani-terrorist-masood-azhar?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 May 2019 12:28:18 +0000 The participation of two Indian battleships – INS Kolkata and INS Shakti – in the International Fleet Review organised as part of the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s 70th anniversary celebrations last month could very well signal a thawing of relations between the two Asian behemoths. The Indian Navy’s involvement coincided with Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale’s visit to Beijing for regular talks with Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councillor Wang Yi. Last week also marked the first... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3008346/are-there-warmer-currents-between-new-delhi-and-beijing-after?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3008346/are-there-warmer-currents-between-new-delhi-and-beijing-after?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Apr 2019 23:00:11 +0000 On Tuesday, India and Australia will begin their largest joint naval exercise to date – the third instalment of the twice-yearly AusIndex war games. The two countries, along with Japan and the United States, are also members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, a group first conceived more than a decade ago as a counterweight to China’s growing economic and military might. Known as “the Quad” for short, this group held just one round of talks and military drills in 2007 before entering a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3003898/why-india-should-rethink-its-reticence-towards-quad?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3003898/why-india-should-rethink-its-reticence-towards-quad?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Apr 2019 03:00:10 +0000 Last week’s failed summit in Hanoi between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is likely to have brought about a sense of relief in Tokyo. Japan feared in the run-up to the leaders’ second meeting that Trump would make easy concessions to Pyongyang and had made clear it would not lift unilateral economic sanctions imposed in protest against North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes. It is unclear if and when Washington will restart denuclearisation talks with... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/2188525/trump-kim-failed-japans-abe-can-reach-north-korea-through-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/2188525/trump-kim-failed-japans-abe-can-reach-north-korea-through-china?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Mar 2019 07:44:15 +0000 As tensions run high between India and Pakistan in the wake of a terror attack on Indian paramilitary personnel in the border state of Jammu and Kashmir, Islamabad has written to the United Nations seeking its intervention to “defuse tensions” with New Delhi. The attack, on February 14, killed at least 41 troopers of India’s Central Reserve Police Force and has led to a major row between the neighbouring countries, especially after Pakistan-based Islamist militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/2186848/how-india-can-react-attacks-pakistan-based-terrorists-wake-pulwama?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/2186848/how-india-can-react-attacks-pakistan-based-terrorists-wake-pulwama?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Feb 2019 02:03:34 +0000 Damned if you do and damned if you don’t. This pretty much summarises Japan’s situation now in the aftermath of the Singapore summit between US President Donald Trump and the North Korean strongman Kim Jong-un on June 12. There are still a litany of worries for Tokyo. Foremost is the issue of Japanese nationals who have been abducted by North Korea. Tokyo says 17 of its citizens have been taken. While five were repatriated in 2002, North Korea says the issue has been “resolved” and that eight... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/asia/article/2151401/sidelined-north-korea-japan-needs-all-shinzo-abes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/asia/article/2151401/sidelined-north-korea-japan-needs-all-shinzo-abes?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Jun 2018 07:15:00 +0000