THE HINDU Editorial Vocabulary- September 16, 2017- Topic 2

The arc to Tokyo: on India-Japan ties

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to India, part of annual summits between the two countries, has set strategic ties on a fast track. This is best symbolised by the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project that was launched by Mr. Abe and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India’s decision to partner with Japan for the 508-km, Rs.1.1 lakh-crore project is as much about politics as it is about infrastructure: 

Japan has been keen to export its high-speed train technology along with rolling stock, and India’s move to confirm the Japanese contracts while China wins projects along its Belt and Road railway line is significant. The joint statement and comments by the two Prime Ministers in Gandhinagar also sent out a similar message that will be read closely in China on several counts. For example, Mr. Abe said North Korea was a “joint” challenge for India and Japan, and the statement contained a phrase about holding countries “that have supported North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes” accountable, obviously aimed at Pyongyang’s benefactors in Beijing. The clause calling for zero tolerance on terrorism referenced China’s veto on the Jaish-e-Mohammad chief being put on the list of UN-designated terrorists. Both the title of the joint statement, “Toward a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific”, and substantive paragraphs on cooperation in the region, indicate a much closer alignment between India and Japan in countering China’s influence in the South China Sea, its forays into the Indian Ocean, and investments in South Asia and Africa. The coming into force of the India-Japan nuclear deal and more military and maritime exercises will buttress such efforts. India has also extended to Japan an offer denied to any other country, which is to assist in infrastructure development in the Northeast.

It is clear that the Modi government has set India-Japan ties on an accelerated geopolitical course that will be a major factor in its dealings with the rest of the world, especially China, at a time when the U.S. is perceived to be retreating from the region. Having made this leap, it is imperative that India and Japan also look beyond their lofty geopolitical aims, at the more basic aspects of bilateral engagement. While Japan is India’s largest donor and the third largest provider of FDI, bilateral trade has steadily declined since 2013, and is down to $13.61 billion in 2016-17 from $14.51 billion the year before. The contrast with India-China trade, at $71 billion a year, and Japan-China trade, at $279 billion, is stark, and the decision to finalise four new locations for special Japanese industrial townships may be only one way of addressing the difficulties businessmen face in India. With the opulent pageantry and 8-km roadshow in Gujarat over, it is time to get down to brass tacks and address some of the issues in order to facilitate closer ties between India and Japan, even as the two leaders and militaries forge closer bonds.

Vocabulary

Strategic: relating to the identification of long-term or overall aims and interests and the means of achieving them.

Example: The company should take strategic actions to cope with fundamental changes in the environment

Synonyms: planned, calculated, tactical, politic, judicious, prudent, shrewd

Significant: sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention; noteworthy.

Example: A significant increase in sales

Synonyms: notable, noteworthy, worthy of attention, remarkable, important

Accountable: required or expected to justify actions or decisions; responsible.

Example: Government must be accountable to its citizens

Synonyms: responsible, liable, answerable, to blame

Obviously: in a way that is easily perceived or understood; clearly.

Example: She was obviously sick

Synonyms: clearly, evidently, plainly, patently, visibly, discernibly, manifestly

Benefactor: a person who gives money or other help to a person or cause.

Example: It would be remiss of me not to recognise the contributions of our benefactors and the support of our social partners.

Synonyms: patron, supporter, backer, sponsor, donor, contributor, subscriber, angel

Substantive: having a firm basis in reality and therefore important, meaningful, or considerable.

Example: There is no substantive evidence for the efficacy of these drugs

Alignment: arrangement in a straight line, or in correct or appropriate relative positions.

Example: The tiles had slipped out of alignment

Accelerate:  begin to move more quickly.

Example: The car accelerated toward her

Perceive: become aware or conscious of something.

Example: His mouth fell open as he perceived the truth

Synonyms: discern, recognize, become aware of, see, distinguish, realize

Stark: severe or bare in appearance or outline.

Example: The ridge formed a stark silhouette against the sky

Synonyms: sharp, sharply defined, well-focused, crisp, distinct, obvious

Pageantry: elaborate display or ceremony.

Example: The ceremony and pageantry of the last week was not simply a way of saying goodbye to a much-loved person.

Synonyms: spectacle, display, ceremony, magnificence, pomp, splendor

Opulent: ostentatiously rich and luxurious or lavish.

Example: The opulent comfort of a limousine

Synonyms: luxurious, sumptuous, palatial, lavish, lavishly appointed, rich