SOUTH ASIA-JAPAN RELATIONS: THE EMERGING REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE

This article analyzes the emerging regional perspective in the relationship between South Asia and Japan. It argues that Japan's engagement with South Asia was evolving from a series of bilateral relationships to a more coherent, region-wide strategic approach. The study explores the key drivers of this shift, including Japan's desire to play a more active political role in Asia, its economic interest in the growing South Asian market, and its broader strategic goal of promoting a stable and democratic Asia. The research examines the key components of this new regional approach, such as Japan's support for regional integration through SAARC, its promotion of cross-regional connectivity initiatives like the Bay of Bengal community, and its emerging security dialogues with key countries like India. The paper posits that Japan was becoming a key strategic partner for the South Asian region as a whole. The analysis concludes by assessing the future trajectory of this emerging regional partnership.

In the post-Cold War era, Japan's foreign policy towards South Asia began to undergo a significant transformation, moving from a collection of disparate bilateral aid relationships to a more integrated regional strategy. This paper provides a detailed analysis of this "emerging regional perspective." The study begins by outlining the traditional nature of Japan's engagement with the region, which was largely apolitical and overwhelmingly focused on providing Official Development Assistance. The core of the article is an examination of the factors that drove the shift towards a more strategic and regional approach. A key factor identified is the rise of India as a major economic and political power, which led Japan to see the region not just as a recipient of aid but as a significant strategic partner. The paper also explores the influence of the broader "Look East" policies of the South Asian countries themselves, which created a new demand for engagement with Japan and East Asia. The paper then details the specific elements of this new regional perspective. It analyzes Japan's new role as an observer in SAARC and its strong advocacy for projects that would enhance connectivity between South and Southeast Asia, thereby breaking down the historical isolation of the South Asian region. It also discusses the deepening security relationship between Japan and India, which was developing into a cornerstone of a new, democratic security architecture in Asia. The findings suggest a fundamental and positive evolution in the relationship, with Japan emerging as a key external partner in promoting both the economic integration and the political stability of the South Asian region.