India, Japan vow to build strong defense ties
印度日本誓言建立有力防御聯盟

Japan and India have agreed to deepen their ties in defense and safety on Monday. Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani held a talk with his visiting counterpart Manohar Parrikar. The two discussed the sale of Japanese US-2 amphibious planes to India.

"In the defence and security fields, I am happy to see that we have been able to build significant momentum. The signing of memorandums of defence cooperation and exchanges gives further thrust to bilateral defence relations," Parrikar said.

"It is important that the two countries develop their cooperation further, both in terms of quality and quantity, in the areas of maritime security and defense, to be able to maintain maritime security in the region under the rule of law and not by force," Nakatani said.

Both sides also decided to continue to conduct joint bilateral exercises between the Japanese Maritime Self-defense Force and the Indian Navy. The two sides have been discussing the potential for Japan to supply India with aircraft and other military hardware. Parrikar is expected to visit Japan's biggest warship, the "Izumo", which just entered service a week back. It is Parrikar's first overseas visit as defence minister. Moreover, Japan's Defense Minister Nakatani will visit India in 2016 to further strengthen ties between the two countries.