India-Japan Relations and the Indo-Pacific — Srabani Roy Choundhury

29. 10. 2024

This episode of The IR thinker examines the evolving partnership between India and Japan in the Indo-Pacific with Dr Srabani Roy Choudhury, focusing on how India’s SAGAR vision and Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific concept complement one another in strategic and normative terms. The discussion explores defence cooperation, Taiwan’s growing salience, Japan’s changing defence posture, the role of the United States, and joint efforts on critical minerals, supply chains and energy cooperation as the two countries navigate an increasingly contested regional order.

Srabani Roy Choundhury

Dr Srabani Roy Choudhury is Professor of Japanese Studies at the Centre for East Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. Her research focuses on Japan’s foreign and security policy, Indo–Japanese relations and the politics of the Indo-Pacific, and in 2024 she received the Commendation for Promotion of Japanese Studies from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

Publications:

The Indo-Pacific Theatre: Strategic Visions and Frameworks

Japan and its Partners in the Indo-Pacific: Engagements and Alignment

India-Japan Partnership: Abe the Game Changer

India, Japan and Beyond: Human Security, Environment, Development, Innovation and Resilience

Content

00:00 - Introduction
02:27 - Complementary Visions: India’s SAGAR and Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)
09:39 - Reception of India’s SAGAR Initiative in Japan
12:11 - SAGAR: A Fixed Strategy or an Evolving Concept?
13:21 - Impact of Japan’s Increased Defence Spending on India-Japan Relations in the Indo-Pacific
19:04 - Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services Agreement (RPSS) Between India and Japan
21:54 - The Role of Taiwan in Shaping India-Japan Relations
27:27 - Comparing the Postures of Abe, Kishida, and Ishiba Towards India
36:41 - Ishiba’s Controversial Statement on an ‘Asian NATO’
39:36 - The Role of the USA in India-Japan Relations
44:17 - Japan’s Recognition of Arunachal Pradesh and Its Strategic Implications Against China
48:39 - India’s Limited Engagement in Minilateral Initiatives with Like-Minded Nations
51:54 - Strengthening India-Japan Collaboration in Securing Critical Minerals and Supply Chains Through SCRI
54:29 - Energy Cooperation Between India and Japan
57:28 - The Future of India-Japan Relations