TFIGlobal
TFIGlobal
TFIPOST English
TFIPOST हिन्दी
No Result
View All Result
  • Indo-Pacific
  • Americas
  • Canada
  • Indian Subcontinent
  • West Asia
  • Europe
  • Africa
  • The Caribbean
TFIGlobal
  • Indo-Pacific
  • Americas
  • Canada
  • Indian Subcontinent
  • West Asia
  • Europe
  • Africa
  • The Caribbean
No Result
View All Result
TFIGlobal
TFIGlobal
No Result
View All Result
  • Indo-Pacific
  • Americas
  • Canada
  • Indian Subcontinent
  • West Asia
  • Europe
  • Africa
  • The Caribbean

Japan conducts naval exercises right at the mouth of China soon after the two state heads talk

Diplomacy coupled with hard military strategy

Abhyoday Sisodia by Abhyoday Sisodia
October 11, 2020
in Indo-Pacific
China, Japan, South China Sea, Yoshihide Suga, Shinzo Abe, Xi Jinping
Share on FacebookShare on X

It is often said that diplomacy and military intimidation are two sides of the same coin. Japan seems to be practising the same by combining soft diplomacy & hard military strategy in its bilateral dealing with China. In line with this, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force conducted anti-submarine drills in the South China Sea on 9th October.

The anti-submarine drills in the South China Sea have come just a couple of weeks after the leaders of China & Japan conversed over a telephone and agreed to improve bilateral relationships. Now, with the anti-submarine exercise, Japan is practising the perfect blend of soft diplomacy & hard military intimidations.

Also Read

China vs Phillipines: Beijing plants flag on disputed islands as South China Sea clash heats up

China vs Trump: Xi Jinping rallies allies, asks Vietnam to stand against the “unilateral bullying”

China is building a deep sea station, to extract ‘limitless’ energy

The exercise was aimed to boost the tactical capacity of these vessels as well as the JSDF at large. These three vessels consisted of a helicopter carrier and a submarine. They are scheduled to make a stoppage at Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam over the weekend intended to replenish supplies.

JSDF has been a dormant player in the Asia Pacific for long and because of that Japan has been called a pacifist power. However, now it is making waves with proactive exercises and strategic movements in the Indo-pacific.

This is one of the many exercises being conducted in the Indo-pacific by countries like Indonesia, India, USA, Philippines, Australia, Japan among others.

All the movements of Japanese SDF should be seen in the context of Sino-Japan relations and the latest dynamics between the new Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Chinese President Xi Jinping. They made their first contact on 25th September when Xi Jinping was the 7th leader Suga-san called after taking over the office of Prime Minister.

Read more: Suga called Jinping after calling 6 state heads and Xi still shamelessly prostrated before him

As more information is coming out regarding the call between Yoshihide Suga and Xi Jinping, it is becoming clearer that Japan has made up its mind to take Beijing head-on. During the conversation, Suga-san did not even bring up the topic of Xi’s possible state visit to Japan which has been in limbo ever since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world.

However, even in the face of all this China has very little options. It just cannot afford to have the whole eastern borders overburdened by skirmishes and all neighbours filled with enmity against the Chinese. China in international eyes has become a country ruled by an evil dispensation because of its aggressive & antagonistic neighbourhood policy. The country is now in conflict with most of its neighbours including Japan, because of aggressive Chinese posturing and intimidating actions in South & East China Sea. Thus, with a change in leadership, China has become hopeful for a reset in its bilateral relations with Japan. A visit by Chinese foreign minister to Tokyo is planned even though Xi Jinping has been denied the invitation. Hopefulness is a very potent drug, and by the looks of it, China is heavily under its influence.

Read more: Xi Jinping’s visit to Japan was unceremoniously rejected. Now, China is sending its foreign minister to avoid humiliation.

The isolation of China has become a reality, and this is very unprecedented as the majority of the analysts did not predict it. Almost all the developed world has seen the public view about China degrade in recent times. And China seems to be in a desperate effort to salvage any bilateral relationship it can possibly save. Japan has been one of those countries about which China seems optimistic for a reset in ties.

Read more: China is officially the most hated power in the world. Now, no global leader can afford to be Pro-China

Suga-san agreed to a co-operation among the countries but raised issues related to North Korea too. The Japanese statement said that the two leaders spoke about “Japan and China’s continued cooperation in handling North Korea, including the kidnapping issue,” whereas it was missing in the Chinese statement.

Japan on one hand agrees to cooperate with its neighbour China and nurture its economic ties, and on the other hand, it continues with its proactive foreign policy of Shinzo Abe. It includes conducting anti-submarine exercises, hosting the ministerial-level QUAD meeting, improving ties with Indonesia & Vietnam, signing bilateral agreements with India, Australia & the USA, reknitting the USA’s East Asian alliance system with mending ties with the South Koreans and standing up for Taiwan.

This duality is becoming Suga-san’s foreign policy doctrine. By continuing Abe-san’s Indo-Pacific policy, he has increased the credibility of Japan among friendly countries as a trustworthy partner and by mending sour ties with South Korea he is further improving Japan’s standing as a big world power.

Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is following a very interesting policy in its bilateral relations with China. Reading the tea leaves correctly, he is creating a well-knit collection of minilateral groupings of friendly countries to counter China. At the same time, it is keeping China under the illusion of hope regarding the possibility of improvement in their bilateral ties. The latest anti-submarine exercise is proof for the above hypothesis. A blend of soft diplomacy and hard military strategy is the new foreign policy of Japan concerning China.

Tags: Shinzo AbeSouth China SeaXi JinpingYoshihide Suga
Share690TweetSend
Abhyoday Sisodia

Abhyoday Sisodia

M.A. in East Asian Studies, Department of East Asian Studies, the University of Delhi, India. Deep interest in geopolitics, foreign policy and world affairs.

Also Read

Trump mulls troop withdrawal from South Korea, Indo Pacific up for grabs?

Trump mulls troop withdrawal from South Korea, Indo Pacific up for grabs?

May 23, 2025
Turmoil in Philippines continues as the Duterte and Marcos families battle it out in the elections

Turmoil in Philippines continues as the Duterte and Marcos families battle it out in the elections

May 15, 2025
North Korea successfully test-fires surface-to-air missile

North Korea successfully test-fires surface-to-air missile, as South Korea and the United States conduct joint military drills

March 22, 2025
A New Alliance in Making, Philippines invites India to Join 'Squad'

Philippines invites India and South Korea to Join ‘Squad’ to deter Chinese Influence in its region

March 21, 2025
China Response to US Accusations on Fentanyl Trade

“US should say thank you”: China Rejects US Accusations on Fentanyl Trade

March 13, 2025
Chinese experimented how to destroy Starlink satelite in is orbit

China readies tech to blow up Musk’s Starlink satellites

January 16, 2025
Youtube Twitter Facebook
TFIGlobalTFIGlobal
Right Arm. Round the World. FAST.
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • TFIPOST – English
  • TFIPOST हिन्दी
  • Careers
  • Brand Partnerships
  • Terms of use
  • Privacy Policy

©2025 - TFI MEDIA PRIVATE LIMITED

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Indo-Pacific
  • Americas
  • Canada
  • Indian Subcontinent
  • West Asia
  • Europe
  • Africa
  • The Caribbean
TFIPOST English
TFIPOST हिन्दी

©2025 - TFI MEDIA PRIVATE LIMITED

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. View our Privacy and Cookie Policy.