Did the Japanese Coast Guard Ship Make a Goodwill Visit to Chennai?

New Delhi, July 6 (NationPress) The Japan Coast Guard (JCG) Academy training vessel Itsukushima docked in Chennai for a six-day goodwill mission aimed at reinforcing the long-standing maritime collaboration and friendship between India and Japan.

Upon its arrival, the Japanese vessel, currently on a three-month deep-sea training journey with new JCG officer candidates, received a warm ceremonial reception from NCC cadets and the Indian Army Band, symbolizing the spirit of Indo-Japan maritime friendship.

The ship, which carries 53 cadets, will remain in Chennai until July 12, focusing on strengthening regional ties through training and cultural exchanges during its global maritime expedition.

“The visit includes joint training exercises, cultural exchanges, and high-level interactions with the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), reaffirming the deep-rooted maritime cooperation and friendship between India and Japan. Four ICG officers will board Itsukushima for onward travel to Singapore, continuing the spirit of professional exchanges and operational understanding. This engagement underscores our shared commitment to regional security and harmony under the vision SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region),” the ICG stated on X on Monday.

In May, San Francisco was the first stop on Itsukushima's maiden voyage, succeeding the Kojima which was retired last year after three decades of service.

Last month, during a meeting in Kananaskis, Canada, on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pledged to further enhance bilateral relations across various sectors.

During a meeting with Japanese Defence Minister General Nakatani at the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) forum in November 2024, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised the increasing cooperation and collaboration between the two nations while recalling the “milestone event” of signing the Memorandum of Implementation for the transfer of the Unified Complex Radio Antenna (UNICORN) in Tokyo on November 15.

The UNICORN is a mast equipped with Integrated Communication systems that will enhance the stealth features of Naval Platforms. The Indian Navy is pursuing the introduction of these advanced systems, which will be co-developed by Bharat Electronics Limited in India with Japanese collaboration.

When implemented, this will be the first instance of co-development/co-production of Defence Equipment between India and Japan.

In their discussions, both defence ministers emphasized the significance of defence industry and technology cooperation while agreeing on increased collaboration in co-production and co-development within the defence manufacturing sector.

“The two ministers recognized the importance of multilateral defence cooperation and exchanges, especially in a rapidly evolving security environment, and agreed to work together with nations that share fundamental values like democracy and the rule of law,” stated the Japanese Defence Ministry.

“Both ministers concurred on enhancing defence cooperation and exchanges to deepen bilateral relationships and assert that unilateral attempts to alter the status quo through force or coercion are unacceptable,” it added.

According to the Indian Defence Ministry, both ministers also discussed the Reciprocal Provision of Supply and Services Agreement and the participation of militaries in various bilateral and multilateral exercises to enhance interoperability between Indian and Japanese forces.

As they reaffirmed that the India-Japan partnership is crucial for fostering a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region, both ministers also agreed to explore new areas of cooperation in the air domain.