A Long-Regretted Mistake on China Policy Must Not Be Repeated

On July 2nd Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, on her first visit to India since taking office, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Under their shared “Free and Open Indo Pacific” vision, an effort to counter China, they agreed to deepen cooperation on security, energy and investment, unveiling around 120 business agreements worth ¥2trn ($12bn).

Japan has long called India a partner sharing universal values. When Shinzo Abe and Modi elevated ties to a “Special Strategic and Global Partnership,” both pledged to uphold democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

Warning Signs Ignored There is no indication that human rights or the rule of law were discussed, notwithstanding the Modi administration’s long running slide into authoritarianism. His Hindu nationalist government has tightened its crackdown on civil society groups and the media, imposing internet shutdowns and prosecuting activists, journalists, and peaceful protesters on fabricated charges. The administration has stifled rights groups through foreign funding regulations and adopted discriminatory laws and policies targeting religious minorities, especially Muslims but also Christians. Police complicity has emboldened Hindu nationalist groups to attack minorities with impunity.

Japan should not repeat the mistakes of its China policy. After the Tiananmen massacre of 1989, Japan led the way in re engaging a shunned Chinese government. The West, too, bet on engagement without human rights conditions, expecting economic growth to bring political liberalisation. The policy failed. China under Xi Jinping has become increasingly repressive at home and abroad, and Japan’s own National Security Strategy now identifies China’s activities as a matter of serious concern and an unprecedented strategic challenge.

Beijing dismisses concerns over its rights abuses, marshals countries at the United Nations in its defence and targets government critics even in Japan. India has begun to do the same, pushing back against international criticism with allegations of hypocrisy and double standards rather than undertaking reforms.

Not Too Late But it is not too late. Many in India are still bravely fighting to preserve democratic values. That is precisely why Japan, with Europe and other like-minded partners, should build a relationship in which friends speak frankly about human rights and the rule of law. If those values hollow out, the Free and Open Indo Pacific vision loses its force against authoritarian rule. Japan should learn the lesson of its China policy: speak up before it is too late, for a trustworthy partnership and Japan’s long-term interests.

Sources: Government of Japan, National Security Strategy; official statements from the Takaichi–Modi summit, New Delhi. July 8th, 2026.