Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Monday that India was an "
indispensable
" partner in ensuring a "
free and open
" Indo-Pacific zone, after talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
Fumio Kishida unveiled a multi-billion dollar plan for investment in infrastructure and other sectors in the region.
“
I described Japan's plan to develop a free and open Indo-Pacific.
India is an indispensable partner for this
,” he said.
“
Japan will strengthen its coordination with the United States, Australia, Canada, Europe, and elsewhere.
India is of course indispensable
,” he continued.
Shield Against China
India, Japan, the United States and Australia form the Quad alliance, which is positioned as a shield against growing Chinese activity in the region.
Relations between China and India deteriorated in 2020 after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in clashes with Chinese troops in their disputed Himalayan border area.
In December Japan, officially a pacifist since 1945, reviewed its defense policy after finding that China, with which its relations had been difficult in the past, now posed in the region "the greatest security challenge of all"
. the times
”.
Japan is increasing its military spending and conducting more joint exercises with its allies, including India, which has also strengthened its military cooperation with Western countries.
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