India
will elevate the Japan security relationship to a new level. During
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Tokyo on May 27, India and
Japan are likely to work out a set of annual bilateral exercises between
the two navies off the coast of India on the lines of the Malabar
exercises with the US. Japan will reciprocate with another rare gesture:
the Japanese emperor and empress, who rarely step out, will make their
first-ever visit to India at the end of the year.
In addition, India will be buying the first two amphibious aircraft from Japan — the maiden military hardware being sold to India. This would be the first export of US-2 — manufactured by ShinMaywa Industries, Ltd — and usually regarded as being without peer in the world as a search-and-rescue aircraft. Japan has changed its laws to accommodate the sale of the seaplane to India, which New Delhi sees as a major gesture. The aircraft will be converted as a "civilian" rather than a "military" plane to get around a Japanese export ban on military systems. Israel will install the avionics for Indian use, and the aircraft is believed to be the only one than can operate on rough seas.
While the PM will be staying in Japan for an extra day, it is also likely that his Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe, will pay a return visit to India before the end of this year. Singh was supposed to be in Tokyo last November, but with the then Japanese PM Noda dissolving Parliament on that day, he was forced to postpone his visit to May. But Abe may keep to his own timetable, and visit India this year.
After the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit, Singh is expected to visit China later this year as well. But having two summit visits with Japan has a special significance. The Indian establishment — having been jolted by China's misadventure in eastern Ladakh recently — appears more than ready to bump up its ties with Tokyo.
In addition, India will be buying the first two amphibious aircraft from Japan — the maiden military hardware being sold to India. This would be the first export of US-2 — manufactured by ShinMaywa Industries, Ltd — and usually regarded as being without peer in the world as a search-and-rescue aircraft. Japan has changed its laws to accommodate the sale of the seaplane to India, which New Delhi sees as a major gesture. The aircraft will be converted as a "civilian" rather than a "military" plane to get around a Japanese export ban on military systems. Israel will install the avionics for Indian use, and the aircraft is believed to be the only one than can operate on rough seas.
While the PM will be staying in Japan for an extra day, it is also likely that his Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe, will pay a return visit to India before the end of this year. Singh was supposed to be in Tokyo last November, but with the then Japanese PM Noda dissolving Parliament on that day, he was forced to postpone his visit to May. But Abe may keep to his own timetable, and visit India this year.
After the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit, Singh is expected to visit China later this year as well. But having two summit visits with Japan has a special significance. The Indian establishment — having been jolted by China's misadventure in eastern Ladakh recently — appears more than ready to bump up its ties with Tokyo.
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