Japan has recently elected Yoshihide Suga as its new Prime Minister, making headlines in the process. The former political heavyweight hails from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which continues to hold sway over the nation’s political landscape.
Key Challenges Ahead for Yoshihide Suga
Stepping into his new role, the Prime Minster will face several key challenges in his tenure. These include tackling the Covid-19 pandemic, reigniting Japan’s subdued economy, and planning the Olympics scheduled for Tokyo in 2021. Each of these challenges presents unique problems and will require novel solutions to navigate.
Japanese Political System
Japan operates under a multi-party, bicameral, parliamentary, representative democratic constitutional monarchy. This political system is characterized by a unitary model with supremacy of constitution—a fundamental law enacted on May 3rd, 1947. Alongside India, Japan possesses one of the few democratic constitutions in existence that emphasizes fundamental duties.
Government Structure and Roles
The government of Japan comprises a legislature, executive, and judiciary branches. The Emperor is the symbolic Head of State, while the Prime Minister functions as both the Head of Government and the Head of the Cabinet, or executive branch. Despite being primarily ceremonial, the emperor holds essential nominal authority; for instance, he alone can appoint the Prime Minister who is designated by the National Diet, the country’s legislature.
From the Japanese Constitution to India
India’s constitution borrows certain aspects from the Japanese constitution, notably the “Procedure established by Law” concept. Encapsulated in Article 21, this principle dictates that any law enacted by the legislature or the concerned body is only valid if it adheres strictly to the prescribed procedure. This principle diverges from the American “due process of law,” which goes beyond legality to affirm the fairness and justness of the law.
India-Japan Relations: Recent Developments
India and Japan have made strides in their bilateral relations. Most notably, they recently signed the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA), a logistics agreement facilitating greater coordination between their armed forces. This cooperation extends to the naval sphere, as the two nations’ warships engage in exercises in the Indian Ocean.
Bilateral Exercises and Trade Initiatives
India and Japan’s defense forces organize several bilateral exercises: the JIMEX naval exercise, the SHINYUU Maitri air force exercise, and the Dharma Guardian military exercise. The countries also participate mutually in the Malabar exercise with the United States, further cementing their strategic ties. On the economic front, Japan has proposed the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI), featuring India and Australia as key partners. This initiative aims to diversify supply risk across multiple nations.
Presidential Visits
In 2019, the President of India visited Japan—the first presidential visit in 29 years. Such high-level exchanges underscore the growing importance both nations place on their diplomatic relations and shared global objectives.
