Why the Indian Navy Is Key to Countering China’s Rising Threat

The Indian Navy has become Japan’s most important non-allied defence partner in confronting China’s expanding maritime influence. Naval cooperation between India and Japan through JIMEX and the Malabar exercises now forms a vital pillar in their joint strategy to respond to China’s growing assertiveness across the Indo-Pacific. These operations emphasise interoperability, combined readiness, and the capability to project power across the Taiwan Strait and the Western Pacific.