Modi writes Op-ed in Yomiuri Shimbun in Japan
Amid China’s aggressive actions in the Indo-pacific region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asserted that India and Japan would contribute towards building an open, free and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, connected by secure seas, integrated by trade and investment, defined by respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity and anchored in international law. He said the two democracies “can be important pillars of a stable and secure region”.
Writing an Op-ed on the vibrant relations between India and Japan in ‘Yomiuri Shimbun’, Modi who is on a two-day visit to attend a summit of the ‘Quad’ leaders at the invitation of his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida, said a peaceful and prosperous Indo Pacific region will be critical for a better future for the entire world.
The Quadrilateral Security dialogue (Quad) is a strategic security dialogue between Australia, India, Japan and the United States.
“As two democracies, strategically located in the Indo-Pacific region, we can be important pillars of a stable and secure region. That is why our partnership is expanding across a broad range of areas,” he said in the article published in the mainline paper published from Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka and other major cities.
“Our defence ties are growing rapidly, from exercises and information exchanges to defence manufacturing. We are doing more in cyber, space and underwater domains,” Modi said in article titled ‘India-Japan: A Partnership for Peace, Stability and Prosperity'.
India and Japan will also contribute towards building an open, free and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, connected by secure seas, integrated by trade and investment, defined by respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity and anchored in international law, Prime Minister wrote, amidst China's aggressive postures in the region.
China has territorial disputes with many countries in the strategic Indo-Pacific region including Taiwan over which the US President on Monday sent a warning to Beijing with the latter verbally retaliating.
The Chinese government claims nearly all of the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea.
“Besides security, together and with like-minded partners in the region and beyond, in institutions and arrangements like Quad, we are promoting initiatives for development, infrastructure, connectivity, sustainability, health, vaccines, capacity building and humanitarian disaster response in the region,” Prime Minister Modi said.
“Special. Strategic. Global. Each of these three words that describe the India-Japan partnership has a unique significance, yet they fall well short of the true potential of our ties,” Modi said.
In a tweet, he said: “Penned an op-ed on the vibrant relations between India and Japan. Ours is a partnership for peace, stability and prosperity. I trace the journey of our special friendship which completes 70 glorious years. @Yomiuri_Online”.
“I have had the opportunity of regularly interacting with the Japanese people since my days as Gujarat CM. Japan's developmental strides have always been admirable. Japan is partnering India in key sectors including infrastructure, technology, innovation, start-ups and more,” he said in a series of tweets.
From Bodhisena to Swami Vivekananda, India-Japan cultural ties have a long and rich history of mutual respect and learning from one another, Prime Minister said.
Among Mahatma Gandhi's cherished personal possessions were small statues of Mizaru, Kikazaru and Iwazaru, the Three Wise Monkeys, he said.
Prime Minister Modi said that his own conviction about this partnership began in his early days as Chief Minister of Gujarat.
It was not just the sophistication of Japanese technology and skills, but also the seriousness and long-term commitment of Japan's leadership and businesses, that made Japan Gujarat's preferred industrial partner and the most prominent presence in Vibrant Gujarat Summits since its inception, he said.