India and Japan Collaboration on Andaman and Nicobar Islands
India and Japan are discussing to collaborate on infrastructure projects in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The first project under discussion is regarding a 15 MW diesel power plant that is proposed to be built on South Andaman Island. This proposal has been submitted to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Japan has offered to finance through its official development assistance (ODA) to enhance India’s connectivity. When Japan’s Ambassador visited Port Blair more than a year ago, Japan had offered to finance bridges and ports.
Rationale
With China’s assertive behavior in East and South China sea and its efforts to expand its maritime reach in the Indian ocean region by developing civilian port infrastructures along the Indian Ocean littoral, has driven India and Japan to collaborate on Andaman and Nicobar islands. Another rationale is India’s quest to develop its frontier regions.
Importance
Andaman islands are located at a critical point, to the northwest of the choke point at the Strait of Malacca. So, it is a valuable geopolitical asset for India. The islands have a tri-service command, which is a first of its kind. The islands also play an important role in augmenting India’s Act East policy.
Shift in India’s policy with respect to A&N?
Collaboration with Japan is a significant policy shift adopted by India. This is the first time India is accepting foreign assistance on the strategically important Andaman and Nicobar islands. India and Japan have been increasingly working closer since the declaration of Strategic Global Partnership in 2006.
Other areas in which India and Japan are collaborating
Japan has become a considerable source of foreign investment for developing Infrastructural projects in India. India continues to be a major recipient of Japanese official development assistance (ODA) loans. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has been involved in many developmental projects in the country.
Japan is funding $744 million road construction project in the border regions of Mizoram, Assam and Meghalaya. Like Andaman and Nicobar islands, due its separation from mainland, this strategic region in the northeastern India also remained undeveloped. Japan is also involved in the construction of Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC).
The increasingly assertive behavior of China has made India and China to work closer through various naval exercises. India and Japan have been regularly conducting bilateral naval exercises called JIMEX since 2012. Japan has also started to participate on US-India Malabar Series of exercises.
