Japan is expanding its Indo-Pacific security role in two directions at once — deepening defense cooperation with India while strengthening its alliance with the US. Tokyo and New Delhi are moving toward more joint drills, shipbuilding cooperation and possible missile training, even as India maintains its strategic autonomy and avoids formal alliances. At the same time, Japan and the US are increasing missile production, military access and operational coordination across the First Island Chain, including plans to assemble and inspect advanced AMRAAM missiles for F-35s in Japan. These moves come as Chinese naval, coast guard and air activity intensifies around Okinawa and Taiwan, with Beijing accusing Tokyo of using routine PLA operations to justify remilitarization. In this episode, we examine how far Japan can go with India, whether deeper US integration strengthens or constrains Tokyo and what Japan’s evolving defense network means for Taiwan and the wider Indo-Pacific.
*Recorded on November 3, 2026 at 4pm Taiwan Standard Time
Host: Rath Wang
Producer: Miguel Yang
Videographer: Damon Lin
Our guests:
Stephen Nagy
- International Christian University Politics and International Studies Professor
Tsai Jung-hsiang
- National Chung Cheng University Political Science Professor
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