Takaichi Finds Sibling in India

The leaders of fourth and fifth largest economy in the world shared common interest for security and economy in Asia-Pacific region in their summit meeting. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited India and had meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi early July. Both governments are going to deepen their relations in security cooperation, economic security and development of artificial intelligence.

Takaichi has been accumulating meeting with leaders in Asia-Pacific countries. She visited Vietnam and Australia and accepted visit of president of the Philippines in May. She stressed her determination to promote a concept called Free and Open Indo-Pacific, which has been Japan’s diplomatic strategy to counter advance of China. At the same time, Takaichi sought opportunity of investment and sustainable supply chain of critical minerals.

 

Takaichi’s visit to India was made in the same context. She agreed with Modi on further bilateral cooperation in three areas: defense and security cooperation, economic partnership (including economic security, energy resilience, technology and innovation), and people-to-people exchanges. Both leaders recognized strategic importance of their bilateral partnership in an increasingly volatile and uncertain geographical environment.

 

Modi welcomed Japan’s revision of three principles on transfer of defense equipment and technology. Both leaders expressed their satisfaction with an agreement on technical details of the Unified Complex Radio Antenna (UNICORN) project. The UNICORN is a device for communication with high stealth capability, which is installed on Mogami-type of frigates. Mogami-type frigate is one of the items for exporting defense equipment. Japan had a contract of exporting three of them to Australia.

 

In their joint statement, Takaichi and Modi shared grave concerns over use of economic coercion, including arbitrary export restrictions leading to supply chain disruptions particularly on critical minerals. It is obvious that their concerns are targeted China. China announced in late June expansion of embargo of dual-use equipment to Japanese companies, following the same kind of embargo introduced in February.

 

The leaders signed on a joint declaration on economic security cooperation, which would promote collaboration in five areas: semiconductors, critical minerals, information and communication technology, clean energy and pharmaceuticals. To accelerate clean energy projects, two leaders concurred on cooperation for development of biogas to encourage the plan to establish 1,000 biogas plants in India.

 

In her press conference, Takaichi emphasized her personal relationship with Modi, calling him her big brother. “We promised to call each other brother and sister, as he called me a ‘beautiful sister a few moments ago,’” said Takaichi. However, it was found that Modi had not called Takaichi “beautiful” sister. “Beautiful” was falsefully added by the interpreter of the Japan side.

 

Since former prime minister Yasuhiro Nakasone called U.S. president Ronald Reagan “Ron” and Reagan called Nakasone “Yasu,” Japanese leaders like to exaggerate personal relationship with foreign leaders. Takaichi offered Modi to call her younger sister, reminding former prime minister Shinzo Abe called Modi elder brother. However, truly close personal relationship would be built with diplomatic achievements for both nations.

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