The three biggest powers in Asia are China, Japan and India. Japan has so far relied exclusively on its alliance with the United States of America to manage the China threat. Under Abe, Japan has begun visualizing India as a security partner for developing a regional security architecture for Asia. However, one should not ignore the long standing internal resistance in Japan to any major expansion of its defence role. China's shadow is visible in other parts of the Modi-Abe joint statement too.

Source: The Telegraph September 27, 2017 18:42 UTC