Japan, India eager to forge closer ties (2)

Malacca Strait

The two countries are approaching each other for a host of obvious and not-so-obvious motives. They claim to share a desire for security of vital sea lanes in the region, primarily in the Malacca Strait. Japan and India have navies that are among the largest in Asia, and both have shown an avid interest in maritime cooperation. Eighty percent of Japan's oil passes through the Strait of Malacca, and 20 percent of ships passing through the strait are Japanese owned. More than 50 percent of India's trade passes through the strait.

India and Japan held their first maritime exercise off the coast of Tokyo in June, paving the way for greater security cooperation. During his New Delhi trip earlier this month, Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso called for more regular joint naval exercises with India, stressing that Asia's "two largest maritime democracies" should step up cooperation "to become net providers of regional security".

Trade potential is another important motive for the Japan-India relationship. Bilateral trade levels remain quite low at $6.6 billion - equivalent to just 4 percent of Japan's trade with China. Yet Japan is the third-largest investor in India, with valuable expertise in areas such as manufacturing and infrastructure that India aims to improve in the coming years. Both countries hope to take advantage of the many economic opportunities to enhance ties.

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