Japan seeks closer maritime defence ties with India

Japan's foreign minister used a visit to India Saturday to push for tighter maritime security ties between the two nations, as Tokyo seeks to shore up its relationships in Asia to counter an increasingly powerful China.

Fumio Kishida, who met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, is on his first overseas visit since Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe secured a landmark victory in national elections last month. "Japan and India have been increasing cooperation in the field of maritime security... It is important to further strengthen our cooperation," Kishida said in a speech to the Indian Council of World Affairs in New Delhi on Saturday.