India signs key military pact with Japan amid tensions with China

India has signed a key military agreement with Japan amid ongoing border tensions with China.

The pact establishes a mutual logistics support arrangement to facilitate further collaboration between the Indian Armed Forces and the Self-Defense Forces of Japan.

As agreed, the two forces will be able to access each other’s bases for supplies and services during bilateral training, peacekeeping and humanitarian operations and other mutually agreed activities.

Additionally, the reciprocal provision of supplies and services is expected to improve interoperability between the two armed forces facilitating bilateral defence engagements.

The agreement was signed by Indian Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar and Ambassador of Japan to India Suzuki Satoshi.

India has similar agreements with the US, France, Singapore, South Korea and Australia, reported The Times of India.

The agreement comes as India is engaged in a military standoff with China along the line of actual control (LAC) in Ladakh.

The standoff, which is now in its fifth month, has occasionally led to violence and casualties on both sides.

Following the standoff, India has ramped up investments in the defence sector.

Recently, India invited expressions of interest (EoI) from domestic companies as it seeks to upgrade its ageing infantry combat vehicle fleet.

The upgrade is expected to equip BMP-2/2K infantry combat vehicles with better firepower and night-fighting capabilities.

The Indian Government also signed contracts worth Rs25.8bn ($353.63m) to procure Pinaka missile systems for the army. These missiles are capable of carrying a 100kg payload for a range of 40km.