Suga eyes India visit during upcoming holiday

Japan and India are negotiating a plan for Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to visit India during Japan’s Golden Week holiday period from late April and hold a summit meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to government sources.

Infections with the novel coronavirus are expanding in India, so the plan will be finalized after thoroughly assessing the situation.

The prime ministers are expected to confirm at the meeting cooperation between their countries toward realizing a “free and open Indo-Pacific,” with an eye on China, which is strengthening its hegemonic activities.

Japan and India have been reinforcing their security-related ties. Last year, the two countries signed the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement, which enables the Self-Defense Forces and the Indian armed forces to provide each other with food and fuel.

At the planned summit talks, the two prime ministers are expected to agree to move ahead with more such cooperation.

To compete with China, Japan highly values the alliance called the Quad, or the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue among Japan, Australia, India and the United States. Suga has already held talks with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden in mid-April.

By meeting with Modi, Suga hopes this alliance will be further cemented.

India has started construction of a high-speed railway utilizing Japan’s Shinkansen bullet train system. Construction of a subway system is under way as well in the New Delhi metropolitan area, financed by yen loans from the Japanese government, and Suga and Modi are expected to exchange opinions on such cooperation infrastructure.

Another anticipated topic is joint cooperation on providing COVID-19 vaccine supplies to developing countries.

If realized, this would be the first in-person summit meeting between the prime ministers of Japan and India since November 2019 in Bangkok.

In addition to visiting India, Suga is also considering a trip to the Philippines to speak with President Rodrigo Duterte. (April 8)