Abstract
This chapter introduces U.S. and Japan’s growing engagement with South Asian states, India in particular, and analyzes the major driving forces of the fast-growing US-India and Japan-India relations from Chinese perspectives. It claims that the US, Japan, and India share the similar democratic values and common interests in balancing China’s rising influence in South Asia. So, South Asia is increasingly integrated into China’s BRI and U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy, resulting in fierce great power rivalry in the region. It also reminds that a chaotic Afghanistan after the full withdrawal of the American troops would bring serious security challenges in South Asia.
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Notes
- 1.
Robert J. McMahon (2006). U.S. policy toward South Asia and Tibet during the cold war. Journal of Cold War Studies. 8(3), p. 132.
- 2.
Remarks by president Trump on the strategy in Afghanistan and South Asia. The White House. (2017, August 21).
- 3.
Counting the costs of America’s 20-year war in Afghanistan. ABC News. (2021, April 30). https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/counting-costs-americas-20-year-war-afghanistan-77414628.
- 4.
Remarks by president Trump at APEC CEO summit|Da Nang, Vietnam. U.S. Mission to ASEAN. (2017, November 11).
https://asean.usmission.gov/remarks-president-trump-apec-ceo-summit-da-nang-vietnam/.
- 5.
National security strategy of the United States of America. The White House. (2017, December), pp. 45–50.
- 6.
Ibid, p. 46.
- 7.
The Indo-Pacific strategy report: preparedness, partnerships, and promoting a networked region. U.S. Department of Defense. (2019, June 1), p. 1.
- 8.
The Trump Administration’s ‘free and open Indo-Pacific’: issues for congress. Congressional Research Service. (2018, October 3), p. 3.
- 9.
United States Agency for International Development (USAID). https://explorer.usaid.gov/cd/LKA.
- 10.
United States Agency for International Development (USAID). https://explorer.usaid.gov/cd/BGD.
- 11.
Fact sheet: U.S. security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. U.S. Embassy and Consulates in China. (2018, August 4).
https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn/u-s-security-cooperation-in-the-indo-pacific-region/.
- 12.
S.2736-Asia reassurance initiative act of 2018. U.S. Congress. (2018, December 31). https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/2736.
- 13.
Trump administration seeks $30 million Bay of Bengal security funding from U.S. Congress. Livemint. (2019, June 13).
- 14.
A free and open Indo-Pacific: advancing a sharing vision. U.S. Department of State. (2019, November 4), p. 23.
- 15.
Ibid, p. 12.
- 16.
U.S. relations with Bangladesh. U.S. Department of State. (2021, January 20). https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-bangladesh/.
- 17.
U.S. relations with Sri Lanka. U.S. Department of State. (2020, July 27).
- 18.
A hidden key to the G7’s infrastructure ambitions: blue dot network. Atlantic Council. (2021, June 12).
- 19.
Fact sheet: president Biden and G7 leaders launch build back better world (B3W) partnership. The White House (2021, June 12). https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/06/12/fact-sheet-president-biden-and-g7-leaders-launch-build-back-better-world-b3w-partnership/.
- 20.
Carbis bay G7 summit commnique. The White House. (2021, June 13).
- 21.
India to become 5th largest economy in 2025, 3rd largest in 2030. The Economic Times. (2020, December 26).
- 22.
Global military strength ranking. Global Firepower.
- 23.
World military spending rises to almost US$2 trillion in 2020. SIPRI. (2020, April 26).
- 24.
Jonah Blank. (2021, May 24). Regional responses to US-China competition in the Indo-Pacific: India. RAND Corporation.
- 25.
K. Alan Kronstadt. (2009, January 30). US-India relations. Congressional Research Service, pp. 34–44.
- 26.
Snehesh Alex Philip. (2020, October 27). The 3 foundational agreements with US and what they mean for India’s military growth. The Print. https://theprint.in/defence/the-3-foundational-agreements-with-us-and-what-they-mean-for-indias-military-growth/531795/.
- 27.
Michael Kugelman. (2021). How will strategy on South Asia differ?. East Asia Forum.
Quarterly. 3(1), p. 38.
- 28.
Quad leaders’ joint statement: “the spirit of the Quad”. The White House. (2021, March 12). https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/03/12/quad-leaders-joint-statement-the-spirit-of-the-quad/.
- 29.
Carbis bay G7 summit communique. The White House. (2021, June 13). https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/06/13/carbis-bay-g7-summit-communique/.
- 30.
Diplomatic bluebook 2020. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. (2020). p. 72. https://www.mofa.go.jp/files/100116875.pdf.
- 31.
The outcome of the official visit of the Prime Minister of The People’s Republic of Bangladesh to Japan: Japan-Bangladesh comprehensive partnership. Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh. (2014, May 26). https://www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/en/news/140525Jap-BDJtstatement.html.
- 32.
Sarbhanu Nath. (2019, January 11). Japan’s growing strategic footprint in South Asia. The Diplomat. https://thediplomat.com/2019/01/japans-growing-strategic-footprint-in-south-asia/.
- 33.
Joint declaration on comprehensive partnership between Japan and Sri Lanka. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. (2015, October 6).
- 34.
Media Statement:Japan-Sri Lanka Summit Meeting. Foreign Ministry,Sri Lanka. May 28,2016. https://mfa.gov.lk/ms-japan-sl/.
- 35.
Diplomatic Bluebook 2019. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.2019. P.71.
- 36.
Tim Kelly. (2018, October 1). As Chinese influence grows, Japanese warship visits Sri Lanka. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-defence-indonesia-sri-lanka-ins-idUSKCN1MB221.
- 37.
Masahiro Kurita. (2020, May 14). Japan’s ‘India-plus’ strategic engagement with South Asia. South Asia Voices.
https://southasianvoices.org/japans-india-plus-strategic-engagement-with-south-asia/.
- 38.
Diplomatic bluebook 2017. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. (2017, June), p. 72. https://www.mofa.go.jp/files/000290287.pdf.
- 39.
Joint statement towards India-Japan strategic and global partnership. Indian Ministry of External Affairs. (2006, December 15). https://mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/6368/Joint+Statement+Towards+IndiaJapan+Strategic+and+Global+Partnership.
- 40.
Ateetmani Brar. (2016, January 18). Japan in northeast India: a potential boost for New Delhi’s ‘act east policy’. Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies.
- 41.
India’s first high-speed rail to contribute in easing dependence on crude oil import. NDTV. (2021, April 22). https://www.ndtv.com/business/mumbai-ahmedabad-bullet-train-project-how-will-indias-first-bullet-train-corridor-reduce-countrys-dependence-on-imports-for-crude-oil-2419743.
- 42.
Japan and India vision 2025 special strategic and global partnership. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. (2015, December 12).
- 43.
Diplomatic bluebook 2018. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. (2018). p. 74. https://www.mofa.go.jp/files/000401236.pdf.
- 44.
Asia-Africa Growth Corridor Launched. The Times of India. May 25,2017. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/asia-africa-growth-corridor-launched/articleshow/58830900.cms.
- 45.
Signing of the agreement between the government of Japan and the government of the Republic of India concerning reciprocal provision of supplies and services between the self-defense forces of Japan and the Indian armed forces. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. (2020, September 10). https://www.mofa.go.jp/press/release/press4e_002896.html.
- 46.
India top recipient of Japanese financial aid since 2003, surpassing China. The Economic Times. (2021, March 26).
- 47.
Japan to provide Loans and grant of 233 billion yen for infrastructure projects in India. Times of India. (2021, March 26). https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/japan-to-provide-loans-and-grant-of-233-billion-yen-for-infra-projects-in-india/articleshow/81710730.cms.
- 48.
GDP growth (annual %)-South Asia. The World Bank.
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG?locations=8S.
- 49.
The World Bank.
- 50.
National security strategy of the United States of America. The White House. (2017, December), p. 50.
- 51.
The Trump Administration’s ‘free and open Indo-Pacific’: issues for Congress. Congressional Research Service. (2018, October 3), p. 7.
- 52.
Japan-India relations. (2018, December). https://mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/Bilateral_brief_India-Japan_december_2018.pdf.
- 53.
Bao Shanliang. (2020). Indo-Japan’s cooperation under the background of “Indo-Pacific”. International Forum. (2), p. 41.
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Li, H. (2022). U.S. and Japan’s Engagement with South Asia-Chinese Perspectives. In: Peng, N., Ali, G., Zhang, Y. (eds) Crossing the Himalayas. Contributions to International Relations. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-5808-2_6
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