New Delhi, Aug 20 (UNI) India and Japan held the 2+2 security talks between their foreign and defence ministers here today, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stating that the cooperation between the two countries is today set against a larger context of a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific.
The security talks between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Japanese counterpart Kihara Minoru and EAM S Jaishankar and his Japanese counterpart Yoko Kamikawa comes amid more assertive Chinese military activities in the Indo-Pacific region.
The two sides held the third instalment of the 2+2 talks today, which were launched in November 2019.
The Defence Ministry spokesperson in a post on X said:
“Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh and External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar today co-chaired 3rd India-Japan 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue with their Japanese counterparts Minister of Defense Mr Kihara Minoru and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ms Yoko Kamikawa in New Delhi.”
Earlier, in his opening statement, EAM Jaishankar said that the 2+2 format is held with select partner countries and the meeting with Japan holds a very unique place in the relationship.
“In the last decade, our relationship has assumed the form of a Special Strategic and Global Partnership…As we both step forward into a more volatile and unpredictable world, there is a need for reliable partners with whom there are substantial convergences,” the EAM said.
“As a result, we have consciously sought to facilitate each other’s endeavours, comprehend each other’s objectives, strengthen each other’s positions and work with other nations of shared comfort. Our Strategic Partnership will continue to grow as we embrace mutuality and display sensitivity,” he added.
“Our cooperation is today set against a larger context of a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific . For India, this is a natural extrapolation from our Act East policy. Indeed, the proportion of our activities and interests East of India has been steadily growing,” the EAM said.
The talks come as China has been increasing its hegemonistic behaviour in the region.
In the East China Sea, Chinese coast guard vessels have repeatedly entered Japanese waters around the Tokyo-controlled uninhabited Senkaku Islands, which Beijing has laid claim to and calls Diaoyu.
As part of the latest efforts to strengthen bilateral ties, Tokyo has been considering exporting communication antennas for Indian warships similar to those installed on a new Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer, according to Japanese government officials, Kyodo reported.
If realized, it would be the first export case under a Japan-India agreement on defence equipment and technology transfer signed in 2015.
Japan and India are also part of the Quad framework along with the United States and Australia. The four members have been holding joint exercises involving their maritime forces.
