Politicians seldom get a second chance after they have botched up their first. Japan’s new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe should thank his stars that the alliance led by his Liberal Democratic Party could virtually sweep the December 16 polls. It has benefited from the popular revulsion for the Democratic Party of Japan, which seems to have imploded. Abe’s party is the same, which was thrown out of power in 2009. His own year in office, 2006-07, was a shambles and ended with him suffering from a stress-induced illness.
However, foreign policy analysts in India remember his short tenure as extremely beneficial for India-Japan relations. Whatever may be his shortcomings as a political leader and his view of Japan’s war history, Abe had a clear idea of the role Japan and India should play in building an Asian security framework. He delineated on this issue while addressing Parliament during a visit to New Delhi in 2007. His vision of a “Broader Asia” hinged on Japan enjoying a value-based relationship with India. It visualised a confluence of Indian and Pacific Oceans. Abe has also a clear view of Chinese belligerence, as reflected in China’s claims on islands that have traditionally remained with countries like Japan and Vietnam.
While India and Japan have a lot of defence and foreign policy issues to discuss and be concerned about, trade is one area where they can do much better. After years of gridlock and drift during which Japan has stumbled from one recession to another, Abe’s government now has the chance to lead. Japan is no longer the world’s second largest economy but it still retains enough economic clout that can significantly contribute to the economic growth of India. A pact signed in August last seeks to double bilateral trade to $25 billion by 2014. Now with Abe in control in Tokyo, the target has become easier to attain. India also needs to do much to enthuse Japanese investors.
However, foreign policy analysts in India remember his short tenure as extremely beneficial for India-Japan relations. Whatever may be his shortcomings as a political leader and his view of Japan’s war history, Abe had a clear idea of the role Japan and India should play in building an Asian security framework. He delineated on this issue while addressing Parliament during a visit to New Delhi in 2007. His vision of a “Broader Asia” hinged on Japan enjoying a value-based relationship with India. It visualised a confluence of Indian and Pacific Oceans. Abe has also a clear view of Chinese belligerence, as reflected in China’s claims on islands that have traditionally remained with countries like Japan and Vietnam.
While India and Japan have a lot of defence and foreign policy issues to discuss and be concerned about, trade is one area where they can do much better. After years of gridlock and drift during which Japan has stumbled from one recession to another, Abe’s government now has the chance to lead. Japan is no longer the world’s second largest economy but it still retains enough economic clout that can significantly contribute to the economic growth of India. A pact signed in August last seeks to double bilateral trade to $25 billion by 2014. Now with Abe in control in Tokyo, the target has become easier to attain. India also needs to do much to enthuse Japanese investors.
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