Japan and India, Asia's second and third largest economies respectively, are achieving closer strategic convergence, a development that could reshape Asia. Since 2014, the two countries have elevated their ties to a "special strategic and global partnership," shaping the security and economic architecture of Asia in an apparent move to counter the rising power of China.
The latest example of this partnership was a bilateral forum held on Aug. 3 in New Delhi to scale up development of India's economically backward northeast region. Its goal was to "explore and expand" the role of Japan in spearheading infrastructure projects in this peripheral area that borders China, Myanmar and Bangladesh.