On Tuesday, October 21, against the backdrop of increasingly tense geopolitics, the Indian Navy escort warship INS Sahyadri sailed into the naval defense base at Yokosuka, a suburb of Tokyo, Japan. This visit coincided with the inauguration of Japan’s new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi.
Sanae Takaichi is the first female Prime Minister in Japanese history, known for her hawkish stance on national security. She advocates for a significant increase in defense spending and takes a strong stance on issues related to China and the Taiwan Strait.
As Beijing seeks expansion, her appointment adds a strong strategic dimension to the deepening defense cooperation between Japan and India.
Indian Defense Attaché in Tokyo, Colonel Majesh Mathew, emphasized to media outlets such as the Nikkei Asian Review that bilateral military contacts between the two countries will remain unchanged regardless of the ruling party in either government.
The India-Japan joint naval exercise (JIMEX) dates back to 2012, aimed at addressing the increasing maritime threats posed by their common neighbor – China. The docking of INS Sahyadri is a key element of this year’s exercise. The official abbreviation for this exercise, JAIMEX, incorporates the Hindi word “JAI,” meaning “victory,” reflecting the strengthened strategic relationship under the banner of a “free and open Indo-Pacific.”
Sanae Takaichi has publicly stated that if China were to impose a military blockade on Taiwan, it could pose a “crisis threatening national survival,” potentially leading to the deployment of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces. Her cabinet appointments include naming Shinjiro Koizumi as the Defense Minister.
Shinjiro Koizumi takes a tough stance on competition with China and enhancing defense capabilities. However, compared to Sanae Takaichi, he tends to lean towards achieving deterrence through the US-Japan alliance and economic cooperation, rather than resorting to ideological or confrontational rhetoric, thus being considered a pragmatist rather than a traditional hawk.
The captain of INS Sahyadri stated that recent exercises conducted in the waters near Kyushu effectively “enhanced our interoperability in complex maritime environments.” The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force also noted that the main purpose of the exercise was to “enhance cooperation with the Indian Navy.”
As a stealthy Shivalik-class escort vessel, INS Sahyadri is designed and built domestically in India. This ongoing long-haul deployment that commenced on September 26 showcases how India is solidifying its relationships with allies in the Indo-Pacific region. Previously, the vessel had visited Busan, South Korea, participating in the first bilateral joint exercise with the South Korean Navy, and also made port calls in Malaysia.
After departing Yokosuka, INS Sahyadri will proceed directly to Guam to participate in the annual joint exercise “Malabar” held by India, Japan, the United States, and Australia. The frequent joint exercises reflect that defense cooperation among Indo-Pacific countries is entering a more closely-knit new phase when facing common security challenges.