Tokyo, Oct. 25: China finds no mention at all in the Joint Declaration released after the meeting between the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, and the Japanese premier, Mr Naoto Kan. It’s after all, a document that reflects a bilateral meeting.
But if Japanese sources are to be believed, China was definitely on the table, and dominated the discussions, with the civilian nuclear agreement and the path-breaking signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement that will help Japan and India tap the full potential of their respective economies to their mutual satisfaction, next on the agenda.
The Japanese have also let it be known that India had been asked by the Japanese leader to support Tokyo’s claim to the Senkaku islands. Indian officials said they had no comment to make, clearly wary over sending out any signal that they had weighed in one side or the other.
The only acknowledgement that China was discussed came during the post-talks official briefing by the foreign secretary, Ms Nirupama Rao, who denied that China took up one-third of the discussion between the two PMs or to India being built up as a counterweight.
Instead, she said any discussion on China was with reference to it’s emergence as a global military and economic power in the region requiring understanding, analysis and constructive and open engagement. Ms Rao said India’s format of dialogue with China to resolve its boundary dispute was being looked at by Japan as a model for it to emulate with China when discussions are held over their maritime boundary.