Japan’s Kishida and India’s Modi share common concerns about China, but they can’t agree on Ukraine stance, analysts say

Japan has tried to forge stronger ties with India by announcing a plan to promote a ‘free and open Indo-Pacific’ to counter China’s assertiveness in the region

But, the nations have different stances on the Ukraine war, as Japan has imposed sanctions on Russia, while India has refused to blame Moscow for the conflict

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Photo: dpa

Published: 11:00am, 22 Mar 2023Updated: 12:29pm, 22 Mar 2023

While Japan’s Fumio Kishida and India’s Narendra Modi are strengthening security and economic ties in an effort to counter China through a shared vision of a “free and open Indo-Pacific”, analysts say it will be harder for Tokyo and New Delhi to agree on Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.

The leaders of the two countries held talks in Delhi on Monday, with Kishida further sweetening his proposals to enhance the bilateral relationship by inviting Modi to attend the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima in May. India is this year’s chair of the broader G20 group.

The action plan suggested by the Japanese prime minister includes a series of measures designed to connect like-minded nations which would also serve to counter the growing assertiveness of China in the region, the analysts pointed out.

Key elements of the proposals include Japanese support for the development of greater maritime security capabilities, additional help to build much-needed infrastructure in developing nations and the provision of equipment designed to enhance nations’ defences, such as coastguard patrol craft.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right) with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida in New Delhi. Photo: Xinhua

Japan recently agreed to provide communications equipment and patrol vessels to the Philippines and is considering similar help to other Southeast Asian nations facing Chinese incursions into their territorial waters.