Approach:

Introduction: Give a brief overview of India-Japan relations, highlighting recent achievements.

Body: Write about various dimensions of India-Japan relations and mention some of the limitations of the ties.

Conclusion: Give a way forward on resolving limitations.

Answer:

India and Japan share a historical relationship dating back to ancient times when Buddhism was introduced to Japan in the 6th century.  The beginning of a strong partnership between both countries started with India’s Look East Policy and culminated in a ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership' in 2014.

Different facets of India-Japan relations

Over the years, the bilateral ties between India and Japan have grown in multiple dimensions, such as:

1. Economic cooperation: Both countries have strong trade and investment ties, with significant bilateral investments in each other’s economies. This is visible from various initiatives such as Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), Neemrana Industrial Park for Japanese firms, India-Japan cooperation in the Automobile sector like Maruti Suzuki, etc.
   • Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has been the frontrunner in investing in Infrastructure projects in India- From Delhi Metro to Water and Sanitation.
2. Strategic cooperation: Both countries share strategic interests in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Their partnership is rooted in a shared commitment to a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
   • This is also reflected in the key role of India, Japan highlighted in its National Security Strategy (NSS-2022) and 2021 Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA), etc.
3. Defence Cooperation: The defence cooperation between both countries has been steadily growing, driven by shared concerns over regional security challenges.
   • Key initiatives include- 2015 Agreements concerning the transfer of defence Equipment and Technology, 2+2 dialogue, and military exercises including Shinyuu Maitri (Air Force), Dharma Guardian (Army), JIMEX (Naval) Sahyog-Kaijin (Coast Guard), and Malabar (Navy, multilateral).
4. Technology cooperation: India and Japan collaborate on cutting-edge technologies and innovation. Key areas include robotics, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, etc.
   • Key examples include- ‘The India-Japan Digital Partnership (I-JDP), and the India-Japan Agreement for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP).
5. Regional and Global cooperation: Both nations actively collaborate on regional and global issues, including climate change, counterterrorism, and United Nations reforms. Both countries are jointly developing the Asia-Africa Growth Corridor, which aims to enhance economic collaboration and capacity-building in African countries.
6. Cultural and People-to-People ties: Both countries actively promote tourism, educational exchanges, and scholarships for students. The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme and the India-Japan Global Partnership Summit are a few initiatives to foster personal bonds between citizens of both nations.

Limitations of India-Japan ties

1. Trade issues: Trade between India and Japan remains limited and falls short of its potential. Japan ranks low among India’s top trading partners, with bilateral trade much lower than India-China trade.
   • Further, there is a trade imbalance between India and Japan, with Japan having a trade surplus.
2. Disagreement over global issues: Both nations find themselves on opposite sides of various global issues, especially those related to the gap between developing and developed nations. Trade-related aspects at the WTO, such as India's tariff structure on imports, are points of contention.
3. Russia Factor: There exists a difference of opinion between India and Japan on Russia. This came forward when India participated in the Vostok exercises, which were held close to South Kuril Island (a disputed territory between Russia and Japan).
   • Also, there is a difference of opinion between both countries on the responses to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
4. Slow progress: The progress of the Asia-Africa Growth Corridor has been modest, with joint infrastructure projects in Africa yielding limited outcomes.
   • There are significant logistics issues and challenges which Japanese firms face in India.
5. Chinese-American rivalry: The intensification of the Chinese-American rivalry in the Indo-Pacific creates a disturbance in regional peace, it promotes arms race and impacts initiatives for peace and prosperity in the region, which impacts priorities of both India and Japan's cooperation.

Way-Forward

Several steps could be taken to strengthen the India-Japan partnership, such as:

1. Address the trade bottleneck to enhance bilateral trade and realise the full potential of economic cooperation.
2. Use of skilful diplomacy to assuage the difference of opinion on various global issues, including the Ukraine crisis.
3. Collaborate on improving the resilience of the supply chain through joint efforts in semiconductor chip manufacturing.
4. Increase people-to-people- exchange by sending Indian IT professionals to Japan to boost digitalization in Japan.
5. Expand partnerships in Science and Technology in diverse domains such as 5G, Open RAN, Telecom Network Security, submarine cable systems, and Quantum Communications.
6. Collaborate to strengthen strategic connectivity that links South Asia to Southeast Asia by harnessing the synergy between the "Act East" policy and the "Partnership for Quality Infrastructure."

The strengthening of India-Japan ties holds significance not just for the two nations but also for the Indo-Pacific region, fostering peace, prosperity, and stability on a global scale. It is an opportune moment to build upon this shared heritage and collaborate for a brighter and more prosperous future.