OPINION: What New Delhi can do to bring Tokyo, Seoul closer

Japan and South Korea, the two reasonably developed democracies in East Asia, are drawing close to each other today. India, the world's largest democracy with ancient roots, can contribute to the process of bringing the two democracies still closer. New Delhi could use its diplomacy to iron out the differences that still exist between Tokyo and Seoul as it has had excellent ties with both the countries.

In a significant development, the political leaderships in South Korea and Japan are drawing very close to each other these days. Recently, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said that Japan has transformed "from a militaristic aggressor of the past into a partner." South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin unveiled a plan for resolving Seoul's long-festering dispute with Tokyo over the issue of wartime Korean labourers who had been drafted to work in Japan during its colonial rule ( 1910-1945).

Park announced that the funds for compensating the labourers would now be raised by the country's "voluntary" private sector donations and paid to a South Korean foundation. The Park plan is at variance with the 2018 South Korean Supreme Court decision, according to which Japanese companies, such as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Nippon Steel, which had relied on Korean forced labour during the war, were supposed to directly contribute this fund to the Koreans.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met South Korean President Yoon in Tokyo last month and the two leaders reportedly had a very meaningful talk. The Japanese diplomatic bluebook today states: Tokyo is for "building a friendly and cooperative relationship" with Seoul.

Observers say that both President Yoon and Prime Minister Kishida recognise the common threat nuclear China and North Korea pose to their countries. They emphasise the importance of free trade and open Indo-Pacific. Besides, they emphasise the importance of trilateral cooperation between Japan-ROK-US "to strengthen the rules-based economic order and promote prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and the world."

The administrations of President Yoon and Prime Minister Kishida are likely to build on their understanding and promote the ties between the two nations. The two neighbours today face common domestic policy challenges. The challenges include declining fertility rates, a rapidly aging population and widening economic disparities. The two nations could definitely benefit working together. Both Japan and South Korea have already eased COVID-19 border restrictions. The tourist traffic between the two countries is surging.

The observers suggest India could contribute to the process of bringing Japan and South Korea still closer to each other. New Delhi, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, rightly envisages "a free, open, inclusive and peaceful Indo-Pacific built on a rules-based order and sustainable infrastructure investment." India could move towards achieving this goal better by seeking to bring Japan and South Korea closer to each other.

New Delhi is well-positioned to do so. India is the world's largest democracy with its ancient roots. It can play a global role in fostering better ties between Japan and South Korea, the two reasonably developed democracies in East Asia. New Delhi could use its diplomacy to iron out the differences that still exist between Tokyo and Seoul and foster stronger ties between them.

Historically, India has been friendly to both countries. India has strong commercial and cultural ties with both of them. New Delhi supported Tokyo's right to self-determination when the San Francisco constitution was enforced upon Japan. It also waived off all the war reparations that Japan was made to pay to other countries.

In 1947, India argued against the elections (US-supervised) to be held only in South Korea. India proposed free and fair elections throughout Korea, including North Korea which was then under the then Soviet Union. During the Korean war, India contributed to the resolution of the prisoners of war issue.

There has been a near consensus across the international strategic spectrum that an emergence of Japan-South Korea-India partnership would serve the contemporary world better. India, Japan and South Korea today must forge a robust strategic partnership based on shared values of democracy, all inclusive economy and world peace.

The three nations need an Asia free from the threats of terrorism, proliferation, piracy and conflicts. They need to maintain freedom of the seas for inclusive economic growth. They depend heavily on the Sea Lanes of Communications (SLoCs) for their energy security. They need to cooperate with one another also for better global governance through reforms in the leading international institutions, including the UN Security Council, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Trade Organisation (WTO).

(Jagdish N. Singh is a senior journalist based in New Delhi. He is also Senior Distinguished Fellow at the Gatestone Institute, New York)

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