While delivering a speech on the topic “The Future of the Indo-Pacific-Japan’s New Plan for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific – Together with India, as an Indispensable Partner”, the Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida outlined the Japanese plan for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP). In this context, understand what is Japan’s new plan for FOIP and its impact on Japan-India relations for the UPSC exam IR segment.
Japan’s Plan for Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)
Japan’s PM explained that the concept of FOIP has become more relevant in the context of a fracturing international order. FOIP aims to enhance cooperation in the world community rather than confrontation and division.
- Japan’s PM also outlined the core principles of FOIP, which are:
- Defending freedom and rule of law
- Respecting diversity
- Inclusiveness
- Openness
- He also explained FOIP’s emphasis on rule-making through dialogue, an equal partnership among countries and focusing on people.
- Japan’s PM also announced four pillars of FOIP, namely,
- The principles for peace and rules for prosperity
- Addressing challenges in an Indo-Pacific way
- Multi-layered connectivity
- Extending efforts for security and safe use of the sea to the air
- The principles for peace and rules for prosperity: The first pillar is the backbone of FOIP. The pillar calls for respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty and opposes the unilateral change of status quo by use of force.
- Addressing challenges in an Indo-Pacific way: The second pillar calls for increasing cooperation to face the challenges to global commons such as climate change, environment, global health, cyberspace, defending peace, etc.
- Multi-layered connectivity: Japan’s PM outlined that this third pillar is the core element of cooperation and it is considered very important to ensure economic growth. He also said that Japan’s interest lies in three regions of ASEAN, South Asia with a special focus on northeast India and the Pacific Islands region.
- Extending efforts for security and safe use of the sea to the air: The fourth pillar aims to ensure the safety of oceans from growing geopolitical risks. Japan calls for peaceful settlement of disputes based on international law rather than the use of force or coercion.
- Under the fourth pillar, Japan also aims to improve the maritime law enforcement capabilities of countries through the development of human resources, joint training with coast guards of other countries and strengthening cooperation between coast guard agencies.
- Japan’s PM also opined that India is an indispensable partner in achieving the objectives of FOIP. Japan’s concept of FOIP is similar to India’s concept of the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
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