Transkript (en)

India and Japan have taken another step toward a deeper strategic partnership. Defense ministers of the two countries met. They signed a maritime security cooperation pact here in the national capital of India. The agreement expands naval coordination, maritime domain awareness, search and rescue operations and disaster relief cooperation. Now both sides also discussed joint shipbuilding, defense technology partnerships and greater military interoperability across the Indo-Pacific region. Significantly, the two countries reiterated their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and opposed any unilateral attempts that are being made for status quo by force. A formulation widely viewed as directed at China's growing assertiveness for the region. For Beijing, the message is clear. Two of Asia's biggest democracies, India and Japan, are steadily tightening their strategic and defence partnership and that's something that China needs to be wary of. Aman now joins us, getting us more perspective and details on this. Aman, the Japanese defence minister was here in India. We had this pact between the two countries. But the messaging in the joint statement is quite clear that as far as Indo-Pacific is concerned, as far as the Indian Ocean region is concerned, no amount of unilateral decisions by China, either by force or by flexing their muscle, will be tolerated. Well, yes, Munam, this is a historic pact signed between Japan and India. And India is also concerning the closer naval cooperation that could check China's maritime reach. as we know India and Japan have been close partners over the years. And you know, this particular visit which is happening with the defense minister of Japan has met his counterpart here Mr Rajanath Singh as well So we have seen India you know strategic ties seen the Bonhomie since the Shinzo Abe era as well And this visit is only reiterating that entire visit And, you know, top sources have also been telling us that the defence ties with Japan, you know, for some time, it was in doubt about the consistency of the American security commitments. But India, in all clear terms with Japan, now is telling them that every defence partner partner not to supply weapons to Pakistan as well. Tokyo has been building an independent, resilient, you know, partnership with India. And that is why we are seeing that during this visit, the defense equipment and technology cooperation is top on the agenda. And so is the joint development and the co-production of weapons as well. This is all that is being, you know, we are looking at India, in fact, looking at strengthening our maritime and naval cooperation with China as well, greater military cooperation. We can see those visuals on the screen where the Indian Defence Minister and the Japanese Defence Minister are signing this joint statement as well, which has been issued today. So overall, positive signs about the India-Japan relationship at this Defence Minister's meeting and this visit also coming at a very important time, also at a time when India is looking at greater Atmanir Bharta, I would say, in the defence sector. And, you know, that is also a key area where Japan will play a closer role with India, the closer naval cooperation and Japan being a major naval power in the world will also be a major thing which will be seen in this particular relationship. Right. Aman, do stay on with us. In fact, the message is quite clear as far as China is concerned. But how was this message arrived at? That is what the inside story is, and that's something that we have access details of here on CNN News 18.