Japan’s PM Takaichi eyes India trip for talks with leader Modi

The leaders plan to discuss strengthening supply chains of critical goods given concerns about China

Takaichi aims to deepen bilateral collaboration in a wide range of fields covering defence, economic issues and cutting-edge technologies such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence, according to the sources.

India’s high-speed railway project to link the western cities of Mumbai and Ahmedabad using Japanese bullet train technology is also expected to be brought up at the envisaged summit, the sources said.

Her trip would be part of the two nations’ practice of reciprocal visits by their leaders.

The visit would come as Japan-China ties remain soured after Takaichi infuriated Beijing by her parliamentary remarks last November suggesting Japan could deploy its defence forces to support the United States if Taiwan, a self-ruled island claimed by Beijing, came under attack by the mainland.

India has a long-time territorial dispute with China in a Himalayan border area, but recently moved towards repairing its relationship with Beijing against the backdrop of their strong economic ties and US President Donald Trump’s high-tariff policies.