India will not become a “pawn” for Japan to contain China, a Chinese state-run media today said, accusing Japan of exploiting Sino-India disputes for its own interests.
“Japan wants to use the disputes between China and India to court India to help contain China. Japan seeks to urge India to meddle in the South China Sea issue, even at the cost of changing its long-held position of reducing nuclear usage to offer special benefits of civil nuclear cooperation to India,” Global Times said in an editorial on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s three-day visit to Japan.
“Looking at Japan’s diplomatic policies over the past few years, (Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo) Abe administration has become more active trying to sway regional powers to encircle China,” the daily said.
It said that India is in need of acquiring nuclear and military technology from Japan and attracting more investment for its manufacturing industries and infrastructure, like high-speed railways.
The daily, however, said that India is not likely to change its position according to the wishes of Japan.
“India takes a multilateral approach to diplomacy and pursues a status as a leading power. Japan’s plans are full of antagonism, which contradict India’s policies. Therefore India will practically assess specific cooperation with Japan case by case,” the daily said.
