Indo-Japanese Nuclear Cooperation

     There was a significant development in the Indo-Japanese relations earlier this month.  On 11 November the Prime Ministers of the two countries, in their third meeting, signed an agreement enabling Japan to export nuclear power plants to India.  This was when the serious accidents at Fukushima are not able, and are unlikely to do so, to see the light of the day, India is still outside the NPT system, and is steadily developing her nuclear arsenal.  This was also when the environmentalists and other citizens of India are up against the ongoing construction of some new nuclear plants here and there in their country.  It is apparent that it was with the interests of the plant manufacturers of Japan in view.  Many hibakusha(radioactivity-affected people), together with others, prominent among them the Mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, are raising their voices against the agreement.

     Looked at from a different angle, there is no doubt that the agreement is a part of, if not exactly a joint encirclement of China, but then at least of a politico-strategic arrangement with China in view.  As such it must have satisfied the ruling elites of both the countries.

     The joint statement by the two PMs, made public on the same night, also said that the military cooperation between the two countries would be closer.  At the same time it said that Japan would help India to have Shinkansen-type bullet trains in different parts of India.  As the first step Japan would build it in Western India, in the 500 km distance between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.  This is one of the busiest sectors of transport in India today.  Also the latter is where the Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi comes from.  The next day, 12 November, Mr. Abe took Mr. Modi as far as to Kobe to take a look at such a bullet train workshop there.

     Would the Shinkansen solve the transport problem in India?  On 20 November there was the worst-ever train accident in the Indian history in Northern India, killing more than 150 people.  In my view what is really needed is to make the infrastructure, railway and road both, much more solid, resilient, and accident-free.  The bullet trains may serve the business people better, but will hardly help the commuters and other common people who make up the congestion.   

The US Presidential Elections 2016

     In several hours' time the Americans will start voting for the new US President.  The writer is not able to predict which of the main contenders will win, let alone by roughly what margin.  He, however, wonders if, whichever of the two may win and by whatever margin, he/she may leave a very large group of American people un-accommodated into the new regime that he/she is going to construct.  In that sense the US will be seen more sharply split than in the present Obama era. And this is after an enormous amount of energy and money are spent, or rather wasted.

     In fact what is it that has been going on for more than several months until today? Have we heard any serious debate on the policies?  We cannot call policies such hollow words like, for example, 'Together let us make history', or 'Let us make America great again'.  Hopefully the voters will not be misled by those words designed to hide the contenders' real programmes.

     Take, for example, the issue of security in our part of the world, the Far East.  One of the two said that the existing security arrangements should be adhered to, and strengthened.  I would say, by all means no. That kind of policy has not helped to ease tension here in the least. Moreover, look at what is going on in Okinawa in Japan at this moment.  They are building a huge permanent military base.  The whole country is being Okinawanized in various ways.

     The other contender is of the opinion that the US allies like Germany and Japan are not paying toward the maintenance of the US military, and the US should stop defending them.  You are very much welcome to do so.  It will mean a lot towards the cause of peace in and around those countries.

     Unfortunately what this contender says is not correct.  Japan is paying several billions per annum for the maintenance of the US forces.  This is a huge amount which could have been spent on more constructive purposes.  Moreover this is the money Japan need not pay according to the terms of the treaties and other arrangements between the US and Japan.  So they are begging, and we are hopelessly subservient.

     For those and many other such reasons, none of the main contenders is desirable for the most important post in the world.  Whoever wins, he/she must take the interests of the vast and growing under-privileged masses and middle classes into serious consideration.  That is all I can say at this late hour, though hopefully it is not too late.