ABC Live traces India–Japan Relations across 77 years, showing how the partnership evolved from post-war goodwill to a strategic Indo-Pacific alliance resilient amid the Trump tariff war.
New Delhi (ABC Live):¯ The journey of India–India-Japan relations spans over seven decades of transformation. It began in the aftermath of the Second World War, when India supported Japan’s re-entry into the international community, and matured into a robust partnership rooted in shared values of democracy, rule of law, and peaceful development.
From India’s role in restoring Japan’s sovereignty in 1952 to Japan becoming India’s largest bilateral donor, the relationship has continuously adapted to global changes. Both countries have navigated Cold War divisions, nuclear test-related strains, economic reforms, strategic alignments, and technological cooperation.
In 2025, as Prime Minister Modi visited Tokyo amid global trade disruptions caused by the Trump tariff war, India–India-Japan relations once again proved their resilience by pivoting toward semiconductors, supply chains, and critical minerals.
1. India–Japan Relations in the Early Years (1947–1952)
India and Japan reconnected in the post-war era under unique circumstances. Unlike most nations that signed the San Francisco Peace Treaty in 1951 under U.S. influence, India chose not to participate, objecting to Cold War alignments in the treaty. Instead, India signed a separate peace treaty with Japan on 28 April 1952, restoring Japan’s sovereignty and establishing formal diplomatic relations.
This independent stance established India’s credibility as a non-aligned nation and earned Japan’s gratitude. Judge Radhabinod Pal’s dissenting opinion at the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal, where he opposed the conviction of Japanese leaders, became a symbol of respect and admiration in Japan.
? Source:MOFA Japan – Japan–India Relations
2. India–Japan Relations in the Cold War Era (1950s–1970s)
The Cold War era created structural challenges. While India increasingly aligned with the Soviet Union after the 1971 Indo-Soviet Treaty, Japan remained a cornerstone of the U.S. alliance system in Asia. Despite these divergences, cooperation continued in development.
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1958: India became one of the first beneficiaries of Japanese yen loans, launching a new chapter in ODA.
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Japanese assistance supported India’s infrastructure, power plants, and industrial capacity, laying the foundations for future growth.
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However, India’s 1974 nuclear test (Pokhran-I) strained ties significantly. Japan, committed to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, condemned the test and froze certain aid programs.
Thus, the 1970s saw political estrangement but continuity in economic cooperation.
? Sources:
3. India–Japan Relations in the 1980s–1990s
The 1980s witnessed modest warming as Japan continued to be India’s largest bilateral donor, funding projects in energy, transport, and fertilisers. Yet trade and investment remained limited due to India’s protectionist policies.
The turning point came in the 1991 economic reforms. As India liberalised its economy, Japanese companies such as Suzuki, Honda, Sony, and Hitachi expanded operations, particularly in automobiles and electronics.
The goodwill suffered a setback in 1998, when India conducted the Pokhran-II nuclear tests. Japan, adhering strictly to its anti-nuclear principles, imposed sanctions and suspended aid. However, by 2000, both countries realised the strategic importance of engagement, and dialogue resumed.
? Source: MOFA Japan – Basic Data on India Relations
4. India–Japan Relations in the 2000s: Thaw and Structured Cooperation
The 2000s marked a decisive thaw and institutionalisation of India–India-Japan relations.
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2000: PM Yoshiro Mori’s visit to India established the Japan–India Global Partnership, a major reset after the nuclear chill.
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2006: The partnership was upgraded to a Strategic & Global Partnership, institutionalising annual summit-level meetings.
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2007: PM Shinzo Abe’s “Confluence of the Two Seas” speech in the Indian Parliament articulated the idea of the Indo-Pacific, long before it became mainstream in global strategy.
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2008: Signing of the Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation, Japan’s second such agreement after Australia, underlined deepening security ties.
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Infrastructure focus: Japanese ODA financed the Delhi Metro Phase II, and the Delhi–Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) was launched, transforming connectivity and industrial planning.
? Sources:
5. India–Japan Relations in the 2010s: Indo-Pacific Convergence
The 2010s saw unprecedented convergence.
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2011: The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) reduced tariffs on 94% of goods, boosting trade and services.
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2014: Shinzo Abe was Chief Guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations; ties were elevated to a Special Strategic & Global Partnership.
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2015: Launch of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project (bullet train), funded largely by Japanese soft loans, became a flagship of cooperation.
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2016: Signing of the India–Japan Civil Nuclear Agreement, enabling nuclear energy cooperation.
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2017: Revival of the Quad grouping (India, Japan, U.S., Australia), with Japan joining the Malabar naval exercises as a permanent member.
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Act East Forum (2017): Japan became the only foreign partner allowed to fund large-scale projects in India’s Northeast, strengthening connectivity and stability.
? Sources:
6. India–Japan Relations in the 2020s: QUAD and Technology Resilience
The 2020s placed India–India-Japan relations at the heart of Indo-Pacific security and economic frameworks.
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2020: Signing of the Acquisition & Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) allowed reciprocal use of defence facilities, enhancing operational synergy.
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2022: Both nations celebrated 70 years of diplomatic ties, with new MoUs on digital transformation, green hydrogen, and clean energy.
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2023–24: Summits emphasised semiconductors, cybersecurity, critical minerals, and renewable energy partnerships, aligning with supply chain resilience strategies.
? Sources:
7. India–Japan Relations in 2025: Tariff War and Modi’s Visit
The year 2025 introduced new challenges and opportunities.
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July 2025: Japan reached a deal with the U.S. to cap tariffs at 15%, shielding its exports.
? AP News – Trump tariffs Japan -
27 August 2025: India faced a 50% tariff hike from the U.S., straining trade.
? Reuters – India hit by U.S. doubling tariffs -
28–30 August 2025: During Modi’s visit to Japan, both nations emphasised critical mineral security, semiconductor ecosystems, and Japanese FDI, instead of confronting U.S. tariffs jointly.
? PIB – PM Modi’s Official Visit to Japan -
SCRI (2021): Both countries leaned on the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (with Australia) to diversify supply chains for electronics, EVs, and rare earths.
? METI Japan – SCRI Overview
How This Report is Unique from Other Media Reports
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Comprehensive Horizon: Covers 77 years of India–Japan Relations, not just current events.
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Structured Deep Dive: Decade-by-decade breakdown of trade, defence, tech, and ODA.
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Integration of Tariff War: Explains how 2025 U.S. tariff policies affected India and Japan differently.
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Evidence-Based: Draws on PIB, MoFA Japan, Reuters, AP, and JICA.
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Policy-Oriented: Shows why the relationship matters for supply chains, energy, and Indo-Pacific strategy.
Why ABC Live is Publishing This Report Now
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77-Year Milestone: Celebrates seven decades of India–Japan diplomacy.
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Geopolitical Turning Point: Trump tariff war reshaped global trade.
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Prime Minister Modi’s Visit (August 2025): Renewed focus on minerals, semiconductors, and connectivity.
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Policy Relevance: Equips readers with historical depth to interpret current events.
Conclusion
Over 77 years, India–India-Japan relations have grown from post-war goodwill to a strategic partnership central to Asia’s future.
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1950s–70s: goodwill through ODA, despite nuclear strains.
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1980s–90s: modest engagement, transformed by India’s liberalisation.
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2000s–10s: structured cooperation, bullet train, nuclear deal, Quad revival.
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2020s: resilient partnership amid tariff wars, focused on supply chains and technology.
In 2025, despite U.S. tariffs creating divergences, India–India-Japan relations converged around semiconductors, critical minerals, and Indo-Pacific security, ensuring this partnership remains a cornerstone of Asian stability and growth.
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