This refers to the editorial “Rising yen, setting sun” (September 27). Japan, along with the West, is a mature economy, where growth rates are sober unlike the developing countries like India and China with blistering growth rates. Given where these countries stand on the economic trajectory, neither Japan nor the West can catch up with them. It would, therefore, be wise for Japan to mend fences with India and reduce its dependence on China. Over the years, Japan has committed the folly of putting all its eggs in China’s basket. The recent maritime skirmish shows how economic clout can bestow a position of power from where the hegemon (read China) can arm-twist anybody (read Japan). . This hegemony can be contained by greater co-operation between India and Japan. The impending state visit can be used by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to break the ice between the two ancient civilisations.
Dushyant Singh Panwar, New Delhi
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