Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi will visit Japan next week. This will be his first foreign visit as Army Chief. According to sources, General Dwivedi will leave on a five-day visit on October 14.
This visit is important in view of the ever-increasing partnership between India and Japan to deal with China. At present, the Japanese Navy is exercising with the Indian Navy in the Bay of Bengal. This is the Malabar exercise, in which the navies of the Quad countries (India, America, Japan, Australia) are involved.
The visit holds immense significance given the growing partnership between India and Japan, especially to counter the growing influence of China. The Japanese Navy is currently conducting joint naval exercises with the Indian Navy in the Bay of Bengal as part of the Malabar exercise.
Just two months ago, Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defence Minister Kihara Minoru visited India for the 2+2 dialogue, where discussions on the Indo-Pacific region were the main focus.
Both India and Japan are important players in the Indo-Pacific region. The governments of both countries have reiterated that in the current global environment, strengthening the India-Japan defence partnership is essential to ensure a free, open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
India and Japan are concerned about China, as Beijing is increasingly posing a threat by claiming territories of both countries. In response, Japan and India have strengthened their military ties in recent times, with an increase in joint military exercises.
Last week, General Dwivedi had warned against China’s grey zone tactics along the Line of Actual Control and said that, while the situation along the countries’ border is currently stable, it is not normal.
