The Indian Navy and the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) carried out a joint exercise as part of maritime security cooperation.
India’s defence cooperation with South Korea is equally important. In 2005, the two sides signed an agreement to cooperate in defence and logistics and another Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation between the two Coast Guards in 2006.
The South and East China Seas are important arteries of the Asia-Pacific region. These maritime commons serve as a vital link between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific.
Japan and South Korea’s energy and commerce are also heavily dependent on sea routes. However, India’s relationship with other East Asian countries, with similar power differentials to China, may in combination hold the potential to shape the future of China’s ascent and determine the ‑success of America’s Pivot to Asia.
