Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi walk before their meeting at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi, India, March 19, 2022. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi
Developments in the Indo-Pacific in the context of China’s increasing military assertiveness are also likely to figure in the broad talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kishida.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is expected to unveil his plan for a “free and open Indo-Pacific” with a focus on India’s growing role in the region during his visit to New Delhi on Monday.
The evolution of the situation in the Indo-Pacific in the context of China’s increasing military assertiveness is also likely to figure in the extensive talks between the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kishida.
The Japanese prime minister is scheduled to arrive on a 27-hour visit to New Delhi on Monday morning with the aim of further expanding bilateral ties in a variety of areas including defense and security, trade and investment, and high technology. .
Modi and Kishida are also set to discuss priorities for India’s G20 presidency and Japan’s G7 presidency.
The Japanese prime minister is expected to unveil his ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific Plan for Peace’ during a conference hosted by the Indian Council of World Affairs at the Sushma Swaraj Bhavan, people familiar with the matter said on Saturday.
The plan is expected to highlight India’s importance to the Indo-Pacific.
Addressing the prestigious Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in June last year, Kishida said he would present the Indo-Pacific plan next spring.
“I will submit a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific Peace Plan’ by next spring, which will strengthen Japan’s efforts to further promote the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific, with an emphasis on providing patrol boats and improving security. Maritime navigation. law enforcement capabilities, as well as cyber security, digital and green initiatives, and economic security,” she said.
The plan is expected to provide details of Japan’s policy and approach towards the Indo-Pacific.
In recent years, almost all the major powers have come up with their strategies for the Indo-Pacific.
Japan has been pushing for a free and open Indo-Pacific with a view to maintaining and strengthening the rules-based international order in the region.
It has also been concerned about China’s aggressive military posture in the East China Sea, the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.
Japan is also a member of the four-nation Quad coalition, which has also focused on promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Australia, India and the United States are other members of the Quad.
On the sidelines of the Quad leaders summit in Tokyo in May last year, US President Joe Biden launched the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), which is an initiative aimed at deeper cooperation between like-minded countries in areas such as clean energy, supply-chain resilience and digital trade.
At their summit, the Quad leaders also launched the Indo-Pacific Maritime Dominance Awareness Initiative (IPMDA).
The IPMDA’s main objective is to monitor regional waters in the context of China’s increasing show of force in the region.
read all latest news from india here
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)
