From Cutting-Edge Artificial Intelligence to Next-Generation Fighter Aircraft, India and Japan Sign a Historic Technology and Defence Pact That Redraws the Balance of Power in Asia, Sending a Clear Message of Unity and Deterrence Against China’s Rising Military Assertiveness.
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi described India as a “talent powerhouse” and Japan as a “tech powerhouse” during his recent visit to Tokyo, it was more than diplomatic courtesy. It was a declaration of intent that signaled a new Asian equation, one where Indian creativity and manpower would converge with Japanese technological precision to build a partnership with global consequences. The 15th India-Japan Annual Summit may at first glance appear to be another routine exercise in bilateral diplomacy, but the depth and breadth of the announcements it produced point to something larger: the birth of a genuine tech-defence axis designed to counterbalance the influence of China in the Indo-Pacific.
One of the clearest indications of this shift lies in the Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation, which opens the door for joint research, development, and deployment of advanced defence systems. Japan, long known for its cautious approach to military matters, is now prepared to step beyond traditional restraints. There is serious discussion of India potentially joining the Global Combat Air Programme, Tokyo’s ambitious sixth-generation fighter jet initiative.
This move, coupled with plans to deepen cooperation in cybersecurity, outer space, and artificial intelligence-driven defence systems, suggests a partnership that is not just about strengthening existing ties but about creating entirely new capabilities. The synergy is natural: India’s software engineers and algorithm specialists matched with Japan’s hardware excellence and sensor technology could yield systems that are both innovative and strategically decisive. For Beijing, this is no small matter; it means confronting not just incremental upgrades in regional defence but a comprehensive transformation of the balance of power.
If defence is the hard edge of the new partnership, technology is its heart. The India-Japan AI Cooperation Initiative announced at the summit represents a bold attempt to chart a different course in global artificial intelligence development. Unlike China’s model, which is built on state control, mass surveillance, and the exploitation of vast data sets, India and Japan are positioning themselves as champions of trustworthy AI rooted in democratic values. Here, India’s role as a supplier of software talent, data science expertise, and algorithmic innovation complements Japan’s long-established leadership in robotics, precision manufacturing, and applied industrial technologies. Together, they are not merely competing in the AI race but reshaping its rules by building systems that can power economies, industries, and national security while maintaining the credibility and ethical standards that the global marketplace increasingly demands.
The semiconductor partnership outlined in the Digital Partnership 2.0 agreement is perhaps the most strategically important of all. In today’s world, chips are the lifeblood of economies, defence systems, and communication networks, and whoever controls their production controls the future. Japan has committed tens of billions in investment to build a full semiconductor ecosystem in India, spanning design, fabrication, assembly, and testing.
With Japan’s expertise in materials and manufacturing and India’s growing capability in design and scale, the two countries are creating a supply chain less dependent on vulnerable chokepoints controlled by geopolitical rivals. This is a quiet revolution, one that reduces China’s leverage in the digital economy of the Indo-Pacific and strengthens the autonomy of both India and Japan.
What sets this summit apart from earlier exercises in lofty declarations is the attention to institutional detail. The announcements were not vague promises but concrete frameworks an AI cooperation mechanism, a defence research agenda, a rare earth minerals strategy, and a semiconductor roadmap backed by serious financial commitments. Japan brings to this partnership not only technological assets but also its famed discipline in execution, while India brings ambition, scale, and a growing appetite for innovation. The combination is formidable and, if implemented with consistency, could reshape the architecture of Asian power in ways that go well beyond bilateral ties.
For Beijing, the implications are stark. China no longer faces rivals working in isolation but a synergised partnership that combines the strengths of two of Asia’s most dynamic democracies. India provides creativity, scale, and youthful talent, while Japan contributes precision, capital, and technological depth. Together, they enhance deterrence, create resilient economic supply chains, and send a message that Asia’s future will not be defined by authoritarian control of technology but by democratic collaboration.
The Tokyo summit may ultimately be remembered as the moment when India and Japan moved from talking about potential to building technological and strategic sovereignty in real time. If the commitments outlined are carried through, this partnership will not only influence the geopolitics of the next decade but also shape the technological order of the century. And for China, it is a development that cannot be ignored.