JAPAN-INDIA relations (between 1945 to 2000.)

We have heard a lot about the ever-improving relations in the last decade between India and Japan. 

Both these countries consider each other very close allies and have a lot of deals and investments going on between them. But the history of relations between these two nations was not always like this. Let us see in detail how far both nations have come together.

India and Japan started their new journey at almost the same time. India got independent in 1947 and Japan moved out of war and atomic bombing in 1945. Although for India and Japan, the timing of their new journey was the same, the circumstances and situation were completely different, in fact, the polar opposite. India had emerged victorious from its colonial past, defeating colonialism. Japan was a former colonizer who had suffered a humiliating defeat in the war. So, their approach to their new journey was also completely different. India took the high ground, proudly thumping its chest on world matters, trying to represent all weak nations and trying to lead the voices of the countries which were recently independent or were still a colony. India thought that since it has defeated colonialism, it is its responsibility as a huge nation to help other weaker nations in their fight for justice and development. It believed that ignoring other weaker nations of the entire world would be selfish and thus, India tried hard to try to voice the weaker nations in whatever ways it can.

 

On the other hand, Japan was defeated in the 2nd world war in the most disastrous way. It suffered defeat and Atomic bombing during the war apart from huge economic loss and deaths. It also failed as a colonizer and had to give up a large part of its colonies and the occupied lands. So Japan took a completely different approach afterward. It tried to maintain a low profile in global affairs, focused more on self-development, and only followed policies as directed by the US.

Apart from this, India was inclined towards USSR, although India maintained a nonaligned status officially. India started by taking the socialist approach in its economic affairs and thus was more friendly with USSR. Japan on the other hand was completely a US ally and took a strong capitalist approach in its policies.

The 3rd reason was that India and Japan were very far from each other. India was a part of Asia but Japan focused on its immediate neighbors and countries of the pacific like the US, China, Korea, Vietnam, etc. Because of keeping a low profile in global affairs, Japan maintained close relations with neighboring countries only. Apart from this, Japan had ongoing issues going on with Korea and China since the world wars, so Japan was more focused on resolving those closer issues.

The 4th reason was the USA had kept Japan in tight control till 1951 to stop its military rise again in the future. But after the US realized that it needs Japan in the far east as an ally against USSR, under the San Francisco treaty of 1951, it gave Japan a lot of freedom and economic help and in return, Japan had to provide full logistical and political support to the US in global affairs. This policy is also known as the Yoshida doctrine. After this, Japan started developing very rapidly.

All these reasons were behind the weak relationship between India and Japan in the initial years after 1945.

Japan had improved its relations with its neighbors like Korea and China even though Japan earlier had a very long history of sour relations with them. On the contrary, India was unable to improve its relations with its neighbors like China and Pak and continuously fought wars with its neighbors. This gave Japan an idea that India is not mature enough and impractical to even improve relations with its neighbors neither can India improve its economic condition but dreams of leading weaker nations globally. India on the other hand considered Japan a puppet and an unwritten colony of the US and a coward lapdog of the US. India used to comment and take a stand on major issues of the world but Japan never commented anything on India- China or India- Pak wars despite being Asians. These also led Indians to believe that Japan is not at all interested in improving relations with India. So India also never considered taking steps toward Japan.

After 1991, when USSR disintegrated, India lost a very powerful friend, a partner, and a market. This led to India redesigning its economic policies that would move away from socialist policies towards a mix of capitalist and socialist policies. Apart from US and European countries for products and markets, India also started 'Look East' policy to focus on the East Asian countries and started working on improving relations with them. Same time, as the USSR had disintegrated, Japan had already achieved economic abundance as its stock market had recently touched the all-time high of 40,000 Japan also wanted to grow itself as a global power not only in economy but in other aspects of global politics like meditating between fighting nations, UN, World Bank, and IMF, etc. So Japan also started finding new friends and India was a near home great option to befriend.

India also improved its relations with China, and Japan had a new market for its products as India had changed its economic policies and was open to foreign companies. Thus, Japan increased its ODA (financial support) in India for providing infrastructural development and other joint ventures increased too. Things were going smoothly, but then..

But then..

India tested its nuclear bomb in 1998. And Japan was a victim of nuclear bombing in the past. THIS INFURIATED JAPAN. Although it was India’s internal matter and it was necessary for India to develop a nuclear bomb due to the threat of China and Pakistan but Japan ignored all this reasoning. Japan started putting a lot of sanctions on India, stopped all investments and loans, and even advocated strict punishments for India on all global platforms. Japan also tried to internationalize the Kashmir issue globally but was rejected by India-friendly nations like Russia and France. Another reason for these harsh steps was that during that time, Japan’s PM was considered a weak figure in Japanese politics. Also, the US govt. had recently taken a successful Chinese trip on various issues. So Japan’s harsh steps on India were based on 4 reasons:

1. Japan was strictly against the development of further nuclear bombs especially amongst near Asian nations due to its experience.
2. The Japanese PM wanted to look tough due to his weak image, so he ordered strict steps.
3. Japan was afraid of growing US-China relations and wanted to show the US that Japan is a true US ally and would go even a step further to propagate the US propaganda of no more nuclear bomb developments.
4. Japan also realized that Japan itself was not allowed to develop nuclear arms due to its peace treaties and its Constitution prohibiting the development of military but if other nations keep developing nuclear weapons, the nuclear-powered nations will have a stronger say and power in the global affairs and Japan will be left behind.

In response, India called out Japan’s hypocrisy. India pointed out that Japan itself sits in the lap of US nuclear-powered submarines and ships that visit Japan’s coastal areas frequently but Japan never raised any question on that. Japan was also soft on China’s possession of nuclear bombs and Japan itself sits under the nuclear safety umbrella of the USA.

Gradually, the world including the US realized that they cannot force India to give up its nuclear goals as India was surrounded by nuclear nations and Japan too had to accept this fact, So, gradually Japan also removed its sanctions from India and since then, India Japan relations have been improving strongly and always in a positive manner.

References: Japan's Asian policy book, Wikipedia, google articles and youtube various videos.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------