Japan, India to step up arms drills, technology cooperation

By MARI YAMAGUCHI
Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — Japan and India have agreed to expand military cooperation by holding more joint exercises and pursuing combined development of defense equipment such as unmanned vehicles amid growing tensions with China and Russia in the region. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi says there is “an increasing need” for India and Japan to step up security cooperation. He noted Russia’s war on Ukraine, China’s increasingly assertive actions, including escalating tensions around Taiwan, and North Korean missile and nuclear threats. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has pledged to substantially increase Japan’s military capability and is seeking to nearly double military spending to about 2% of GDP.