Japan-India ties are 70 years old this year.
- For the first five post-war decades of the 20th century, bilateral ties were friendly.
- India was not among the signatories of the 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty, which brokered post-war relations between the defeated Axis power and the Allies.
- Instead, Delhi established an independent peace treaty and bilateral relations with Japan.
Transformation in India-Japan ties:
- Defence: While the security agreement was in place since 2008, under Abe the two sides decided to have Foreign and Defence Ministers’ Meeting (2+2).
- A pact for transfer of defence equipment and technology was also signed in 2015, an uncommon agreement for post-War Japan.
- Bilateral relations: In September 2014, Modi and Abe agreed to upgrade the bilateral relationship to “Special Strategic and Global Partnership”.
- The relationship grew and encompassed issues from civilian nuclear energy to maritime security, bullet trains to quality infrastructure, Act East policy to Indo-Pacific strategy
- Indo pacific: In August 2007, when Abe visited India for the first time as PM, he delivered the now-famous “Confluence of the Two Seas” speech — laying the foundation for his concept of Indo-Pacific.
- Bilateral visits: During his first stint in 2006-07, Abe visited India and addressed Parliament.
- No other Prime Minister of Japan has made so many visits to India.
- Stand against China: During the Doklam crisis and the current stand-off, Japan has made statements against China for changing the status quo.
- Development: During Abe’s visit in 2015, India decided to introduce the Shinkansen System (bullet train).
- Under Abe’s leadership, India and Japan also formed the Act East Forum and are engaged in projects in the Northeast, closely watched by China.
- Abe had spelt out his vision of the Confluence of the Two Seas in his 2007 speech when the Quad was formed.
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