The Hindu : Japan welcomes Indo-U.S. security arrangement

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 28, 2002

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Japan welcomes Indo-U.S. security arrangement

By Atul Aneja

NEW DELHI APRIL 27. Relying on the Malacca Straits for its oil supplies, Japan has welcomed a new security arrangement between India and the United States that could make shipping through this passage safer.

"We, of course, welcome this initiative," Japan's Ambassador to India, Hiroshi Hirabayshi, said in an interview to The Hindu. Naval analysts here say that this new tie-up is likely to increase the profile of Indian and U.S. warships in the strategic Malacca Straits — the narrow passage connecting the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean which is crucial for international trade.

In response to a question, Mr. Hirabayshi acknowledged that the utility of the Andaman and Nicobar islands as a mid-way staging post for storing oil from the Persian Gulf to East Asia was worth exploring. He, however, clarified that this "interesting idea'' which could bring the Andaman and Nicobar islands on the region's energy security map might have greater relevance for South East Asia, rather than Japan which rapidly moves its oil in huge tankers through the Malacca Straits. Fifty years after establishing diplomatic relations, India and Japan are now poised for a quantum leap in their relationship in the security, economic and political spheres. India and Japan "being mature democracies'' have a joint role to play to bring stability to Asia which is "plagued with uncertainty.''

In response to a question, he said that China was not a "threat'' but a "challenge'' to all its neighbouring countries. While advocating a policy of "engagement'' with China, he nevertheless felt that the Chinese military build-up and the lack of "transparency'' in its defence spending were a "cause for concern.'' Mr. Hirabayshi said Chinese ships were unlikely to gain access to the Bay of Bengal through Myanmar's Irrawady river. Pointing to the complexity of Myanmar's external relations, he said that Yangon should be "engaged'' by countries in the region and beyond. He welcomed the External Affairs Minister, Jaswant Singh's recent visit to Myanmar which he felt was "good for regional stability.''

Asked to comment on the Japanese disposition towards Iran, Mr. Hirabayshi said that Teheran should not find a place in the "axis of evil'' list of countries drawn by the U.S. "Iran is a valuable member of the international community," he said and added that the Japanese Foreign Minister was visiting Teheran shortly.

The chill in Indo-Pakistani relations could hamper the full economic development of Central Asia and South Asia. The disruption of rail links between India and Pakistan, for instance, might affect reconstruction activity in Afghanistan where New Delhi and Tokyo were likely to be partners. Stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan and improvement in Indo- Pak. relations could greatly encourage the development of Central Asia's oil and gas fields. India, Iran and Pakistan could play a major role in the economic development of this "vast region'' either as markets or by providing transit corridors for Central Asian oil and gas.

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