The Hindu editorial on 01/09/2025 examines Indo-Japan ties in the backdrop of a recent visit by PM Modi to Japan. The joint statement issued after the meeting between Modi and Ishiba highlighted a long-term partnership with a next-gen focus. The relationship was further enhanced through a "Next-Gen State-Prefecture Partnership" to boost grassroots-level ties. The 2035 Vision Statement outlines eight areas of operation, including economic security, mobility, and green technology, as part of which Japanese businesses are expected to invest $68 billion in India. The 2008 Security Partnership has been updated to include an annual NSA-level dialogue, increased engagement over the Quad, Indo-Pacific cooperation, and UN Security Council reform. Both sides agreed to build a more robust supply chain and secure critical infrastructure in the Indian semiconductor industry, utilizing Japanese technology in the wake of Chinese restrictions on Indian companies exporting rare earth magnets. The collaboration on India's High-Speed Rail "Bullet Train" project was showcased by the two leaders traveling by train to inspect a semiconductor factory. The joint statement strongly condemned North Korea’s missile tests and nuclear programme, the Pahalgam attack, and cross-border terrorism without mentioning Pakistan. The leaders highlighted the importance of the upcoming Quad Summit in India, clouded by the US tariff imposition on the host country. Though it was a bilateral meeting, the implications were largely geopolitical. The editorial notes that Modi's choice to visit Japan before normalization talks with China's Xi Jinping, and Japan's trade and security tensions with the U.S. and China, respectively, sent a clear message that the India-Japan ties remain stable amid global churn.
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