Natural allies, but not on N-front

NEW DELHI: In a significant development, Japan on Friday said it was willing to hold discussions with India on civilian nuclear cooperation. Japan did not come out and support the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, but said it was ready to start discussions with India on this matter under “appropriate” international safeguards. This is being seen here as a significant step by Japan, which cited “sensitivities” as the only victim of the nuclear bomb.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on Friday held wide-ranging talks and released a voluminous joint statement that reaffirmed India and Japan as “natural allies”.

“The two leaders affirm that India and Japan are natural partners as the largest and most developed democracies of Asia, with a mutual stake in each other’s progress and prosperity,” the joint statement read.

This visit is also being closely watched by China in the backdrop of suggestions about a new order emerging in Asia. The media in China has been rife with speculation that India and Japan are trying to align in a bid to contain China.

But Indo-Japan ties have come a long way since Japan enforced sanctions after India’s nuclear tests. “India-Japan relations are today poised for a transformation and we have resolved to seize this historic moment,” said Mr Singh in a press conference after the talks.

This, analysts say, is also seen in the warm welcome accorded to Mr Singh who also addressed the Japanese Parliament, a gesture accorded to very few, and through Japan’s willingness to discuss civilian nuclear cooperation with India.

Japanese Prime Minister Abe told a press conference later that he had conveyed to the Indian prime minister that India should “respond to the concerns of the international community” and “go forward” with IAEA safeguards. Mr Abe said Japan and India would have further discussions on this.

Japan has further said that international civilian nuclear energy collaboration should be increased through “constructive approaches” under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. Mr Abe said Japan would be actively involved in the discussions on the Indo-US nuclear deal at the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and other international forums.

All this, say experts, points to the emergence of a new alignment in Asia as the Japan, unlike other Asian countries, does not share any historical baggage with India. “There is a great deal of convergence. The main concern is China. But China needs to be contained and this is the unspoken agreement,” said Prof Bharat Karnad, a defence analyst.

Another expert said there is a growing perception in Japan that China is undercutting its interests and cited a clash of interests. “There is a growing feeling that China is undercutting Japan economically and politically in South-East Asia,” said GVC Naidu, a senior fellow at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis. He added that it was “remarkable” that Japan had agreed to engaging India in discussion on the deal.

The countries also decided to establish a strategic and global partnership between the two countries. There has been speculation that though economic and trade co-operation are on the main agenda of Singh’s Japan tour, issues relating to China’s development will also be included in their strategic considerations, China Daily said on Friday.