<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/41438555.cms" /> India and Japan have agreed to ‘upgrade and strengthen’ their defence cooperation as they asked officials to begin talks to promote defence equipment collaboration and finalise the modalities for the sale of Japanese US—2 <keyword id="2498414" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Amphibian-aircraft">amphibian aircraft</keyword>. 
 
 “The two Prime Ministers reaffirmed the importance of defence relations between India and Japan in their strategic partnership and decided to upgrade and strengthen them,” a joint statement said. 
 
“We intend to give a new thrust and direction to our defence cooperation, including collaboration in defence technology and equipment, given our shared interest in peace and stability and maritime security. We have also decided to expand our cooperation in advanced technology, science and technology, people—to—people exchanges, educational exchanges, etc,” Modi said at the joint press briefing with Abe. 
 
“The two Prime Ministers expressed hope that this would usher in a new era of cooperation in defence equipment and technology. They recognised the enormous future potential for transfer and collaborative projects in defence equipment and technology between the two countries,” the statement said. 
 
He also announced to set up a special team in his office to deal with proposals from Japan and also offered membership in his new team to two people selected by Japan.

India And Japan To ‘Upgrade
And Strengthen’ Defence Cooperation

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58c079766e200469108b4b82-2400/undefined" border="0" alt="US Marines 11th MEU" data-mce-source="US Marine Corps" />US Marine CorpsUS Marines make a landing.</div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>The US Marine Corps is developing a new concept of naval warfare to allow Marines to take South China Sea islands from Beijing in the context of a massive missile fight in the Pacific. </li><li>China recently deployed DF-26 "carrier killer" missiles to its northwest where they could sink US ships from outside the range of the longest-legged Navy platform.</li><li>Marine Corps leaders concluded that current battle formations wouldn't hold up to a massive battle against China.</li><li>They have instead recommended putting more missiles on small deck carriers and having the Marines sail with US Navy destroyers and cruisers.</li></ul>The US Marine Corps is developing a new concept of naval warfare to allow Marines to take South China Sea islands from Beijing in the context of a massive missile fight in the Pacific. Marine Corps leaders at the Surface Navy Association's annual national symposium told <a href="https://news.usni.org/2019/01/23/marines-next-high-end-fight-call-larger-formations-tougher-amphibs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">USNI News</a> that today's naval protocol wasn't what the force was looking for to take on China's Pacific fortress. China has spent years dredging up the sea floor to build artificial islands in the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/south-china-sea" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South China Sea</a>, an international waterway. Despite promising never to militarize the islands and losing an international arbitration case concluding they did not own the islands, China has enforced de facto control over the vital shipping lane that sees trillions in annual trade. Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-firms-interested-in-philippines-valuable-subic-bay-2019-1">Chinese companies have their eyes on what used to be the US Navy's biggest base in the Pacific</a>The US regularly contests China's claims to these waters by sailing US Navy destroyers through the area, but China has increasingly responded with <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/south-china-sea-chinesenavy-ram-us-ships-2018-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">militaristic rhetoric and one Chinese admiral even calling for the sinking of US aircraft carriers.</a><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/57850de44321f11b008b78ec-800/screen shot 2016-07-12 at 113255 am.png" border="0" alt="South China Sea Map" data-mce-source="CSIS/Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative" data-link="https://amti.csis.org/arbitration-map/" /><a href="https://amti.csis.org/arbitration-map/">CSIS/Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative</a></div></div></div>But the US remains committed to checking China's land grab in the Pacific, and accordingly, it's crafting war plans to stand up to Beijing's growing military and rocket forces.Taking Beijing's islands is central to those plans, US Marine Corps Maj. Gen. David Coffman said, according to USNI News.Coffman said "integrated naval operations could be needed to take an island somewhere - natural or manmade," in a likely reference to Beijing's man-made South China Sea outposts. "It certainly will be required when a great power competition pits a whale against an elephant, or maybe two elephants - a global maritime power, that's us, against a regional land power hegemon with home-field advantage," he continued, again referencing China as an "elephant," or a land power that the US, a "whale" or maritime power would have to overcome.Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinas-threats-to-attack-us-aircraft-carriers-would-backfire-horribly-2019-1" data-analytics-position="1">China sets the stage for a 'bloody nose' attack on US aircraft carriers, but it would backfire horribly</a>"In that long war, maritime superiority is necessary but not sufficient for the whale to beat the elephant," he said. In other words, the US Navy and Marines can't just win the fight with better sea power, they will also need to make landings.But those landings will have to be made under a massive missile attack. <h2>Can the carriers survive?</h2><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5c4a0bc02bdd7f0a471ce32a-1240/uss america.jpg" border="0" alt="USS America" data-mce-source="US Navy" data-mce-caption="The amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) conducts flight operations near the island of Hawaii, July 30, 2016." />US NavyThe amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) conducts flight operations near the island of Hawaii, July 30, 2016.</div></div></div>China <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-mobilizes-missiles-able-to-sink-us-warships-in-south-china-sea-2019-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently deployed DF-26 "carrier killer" missiles to its northwest</a> where they could sink US ships from outside the range of the longest-legged Navy platform. The South China Sea now hosts a vast network of radars that experts say could be used to track and kill US naval aviation, even the stealth kind. Additionally, a recent study that looked at carrier survivability at the <a href="https://www.heritage.org/defense/event/the-future-the-us-aircraft-carrier-fearsome-warship-or-expensive-target" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Heritage Foundation</a> revealed that China could likely muster up 600 anti-ship missiles and that a carrier strike group could likely only down 450 of those fires. As a result, Coffman said the normal three-ship Amphibious Ready Group and the accompanying a Marine Expeditionary Unit on small deck carriers would no longer cut it. <h2>Up gunning the fleet</h2><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/568164a5e6183e9d408b4ded-2048/20950477570f91f04ceabk.jpg" border="0" alt="navy amphibious ship" data-mce-source="US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Vladimir Ramos" data-mce-caption="U.S. Marines assigned to 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion observe the approach of amphibious assault vehicles (AAV) during well deck operations aboard amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25). Somerset is participating in Exercise Dawn Blitz 2015 (DB-15)." />US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Vladimir RamosU.S. Marines assigned to 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion observe the approach of amphibious assault vehicles (AAV) during well deck operations aboard amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25). Somerset is participating in Exercise Dawn Blitz 2015 (DB-15).</div></div></div>The solution? Up-gunning the small carriers and including destroyers and cruisers in the battle formation. "Every ship has to be a warship that can defend itself, have an offensive striking capability and be able to deal with the threats that are coming in, be it a cyber threat - so it needs a good network - or whether it's a kinetic threat in the form of a missile that's coming at it," Lt. Gen. Brian Beaudreault said, according to USNI.Beaudreault suggested putting vertical lauch cells on new US Marine Corps helicopter and F-35B carriers to handle incoming threats, essentially turning these amphibious flattops into aircraft-carrying destroyers in their own right. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/north-korea-kim-jong-un-scariest-dictators-2016-1">North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un is 35 - here's how he became one of the world's scariest dictators</a></h3> <div> <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/nyjbDyJ4-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script> </div> </div>

US to tweak its aircraft carrier weapons to help Marines take South China Sea islands in a missile fight

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The PBY Catalina flying boat was one of the most iconic Allied aircraft of World War II.</li><li>PBY Catalinas were used to patrol coastlines, hunt enemy warships, and rescue sailors and aircrews.</li></ul>To a downed Allied pilot floating on a raft, they were lifesavers. To German and Japanese submarines, they were a menace.The <a href="https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/nnam/explore/collections/aircraft/p/pby-5a-catalina.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PBY Catalina flying boat</a> was one of the most iconic Allied aircraft of World War II. And 80 years later, it is coming back. A Florida-based company plans to build a new version of the Catalina that it wants to start delivering in 2029. The announcement comes amid growing interest in the US and other nations in the military potential of amphibious aircraft.A modernized Catalina has the advantage of tapping into both practicality and nostalgia. The Next Generation Amphibious Aircraft Catalina II "is a modern amphibian with advanced engines and avionics and will offer capabilities no other amphibian can provide today." Lawrence Reece, president of Catalina Aircraft, said in <a href="https://catalinaaircrafttrust.com/news" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a press release</a>.<div type="image" title="Catalina PBY-5A Aleutian Alaska" height="1571" width="2000" msid="102782806" hostid="261" sizebytes="109176"></div>The civilian version, aimed at civilian and commercial operators, will be a 16-ton aircraft capable of hauling 34 passengers or 6 tons of cargo. It can land and take off in waters up to sea state 2, which means fairly smooth seas with waves up to 20 inches.The Special Use version is aimed at government users such the military, coast guard, and disaster-relief agencies. It will be a 20-ton aircraft capable of operating in sea state 3, meaning waves of 49 inches. However, the Catalina Aircraft announcement provided few details on the aircraft's performance, other than to say that both models will be powered by twin turboprops.Neither version will be pressurized, which precludes high-altitude flight. Nor is it clear what aspects of the design are being modernized. The announcement did say that the Catalina II will exploit "today's advances in digitization, systems, materials, corrosion control, avionics, and engine/propulsion technologies."<div type="image" title="Navy Catalina PBY seaplane Corpus Christi" height="1375" width="2000" msid="102782807" hostid="261" sizebytes="128566"></div>While aviation buffs frequently talk of bringing classic aircraft back to life, the return of the Catalina is more than a trip down memory lane. Catalina Aircraft announcement listed almost 60 civilian and government missions the Catalina II will be able to perform.Civilian uses include passenger and cargo transport, air ambulance, and "adventure sports transport." Non-military governmental uses include maritime search and rescue, border and coastal patrol, firefighting, and "Riot Control (Water/Foam Drop)."But more than half of the potential missions are for the military, which is bound to draw the most attention to the Catalina II. Missions include amphibious troop transport, anti-submarine and anti-surface ship warfare, reconnaissance missions, aerial tanking, airborne command and control, and flying artillery for ground troops.<h2>A versatile plane</h2><div type="image" title="Coast Guard Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina" height="651" width="893" msid="102782810" hostid="261" sizebytes="39288"></div>Catalina Aircraft's list of potential missions is ambitious, but the original Consolidated Aircraft PBY Catalina was a versatile plane.Designed in the mid-1930s as a US Navy patrol bomber, the "Cat" or "Dumbo" served as a search plane, anti-submarine aircraft, torpedo bomber, rescue plane, and troop and cargo carrier.The US Navy <a href="https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/consolidated-pby-5-catalina/nasm_A19730277000" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ordered 200</a> PBY-5s, the latest version of the aircraft, in December 1939 but would acquire hundreds of them during the war. With more powerful engines, the PBY-5 had a maximum speed of about 175 mph and could fly 2,545 miles without refueling. It was armed with several machine guns and could carry bombs, depth charges, or torpedoes.In all, some 4,000 Catalinas were built between 1936 and 1945, including 600 in Canada and 27 in the Soviet Union.<div type="image" title="Navy seaplane tender Salisbury Sound Martin P5M-1 Marlin" height="1175" width="1846" msid="102782812" hostid="261" sizebytes="65998"></div>Among the Catalina's World War II feats was <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hunt-for-battleship-bismarck-proved-uboats-were-nazis-best-weapon-2021-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">locating the German battleship Bismarck</a>, enabling the Royal Navy to close in and sink it, as well as spotting approaching <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-is-learning-from-battle-of-midway-world-war-ii-2021-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Japanese ships at the Battle of Midway</a>.However, its greatest contribution was as an anti-submarine aircraft that sank German and Japanese submarines, pinpointed them for Allied surface ships to attack, or kept the subs at bay just by being present.After serving in several Allied militaries during World War II, many Catalinas remained in operation with militaries and civilian users around the world. The US military <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/flying-boats-seaplanes-competition-with-china-in-pacific-2021-4">pursued other seaplanes</a> early in the Cold War, but amphibious aircraft had lost their utility by 1960.More recently, some Catalinas were used as firefighting aircraft, though <a href="https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/catalina-aircraft-relaunches-iconic-flying-boat-eyes-military-sales/154255.article" target="_blank" rel="noopener">none remain</a> in military or commercial service.While impressive, the original Catalina had its flaws. It was slow and ponderous in the air, which made using it near enemy fighters and air defenses a risky proposition. Stormy waves could ground seaplanes unless they also had access to a paved runway. (The PBY-5 and earlier models <a href="https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/consolidated-pby-5-catalina/nasm_A19730277000" target="_blank" rel="noopener">couldn't land</a> on anything but water.)<div type="image" title="AVIC AG600 Kunlong floatplane" height="1880" width="2712" msid="102782814" hostid="261" sizebytes="249942"></div>These issues were outweighed by the Catalina's other qualities. Its long range and ability to land on water were important features in the vast Pacific theater, where many islands had only rudimentary ground facilities. Seaplane tender ships also allowed Catalinas to operate away from established infrastructure.With the Pentagon increasingly worried that a war with China in the Pacific <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-air-force-ace-concept-creates-logistics-base-defense-needs-2023-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">would see Guam and other US airbases</a> pounded <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-air-force-needs-new-ways-to-defend-pacific-bases-2022-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">by ballistic and cruise missiles</a>, an aircraft that just needs some moderately calm water could be invaluable. Indeed, the Catalina redux is part of the growing interest in seaplanes.US Air Force Special Operations Command wants an amphibious version of the <a href="https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2022/09/22/air-force-plans-more-tests-of-amphibious-armed-mc-130j-airlifter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">C-130 Hercules</a>, and DARPA has started developing the <a href="https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2023-02-01" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Liberty Lifter</a>, a giant seaplane similar in size and capacity to the C-17 cargo plane.If the US military were to get its hands on another seaplane, it would be small but notable company. Russia's military has long operated seaplanes and currently uses the jet-powered <a href="https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2020/july/6440-russian-navy-receives-its-first-be-200es-amphibious-aircraft.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Be-200</a>. Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force has the well-regarded <a href="https://warontherocks.com/2021/11/a-japanese-seaplane-could-be-the-difference-maker-for-the-u-s-military/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US-2</a>. Meanwhile, China has the AG600, a 60-ton aircraft that may <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-tests-new-ag600-amid-growing-us-amphibious-planes-interest-2022-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">be the world's largest seaplane</a>.Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds a master's in political science. Follow him on <a href="https://www.twitter.com/@mipeck1" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://affiliate.insider.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fmipeck%2F&amp;amazonTrackingID=null&amp;site=bi&amp;vikingID=63a0ec69c4cc6f36ff0dbbd6&amp;platform=browser&amp;sc=false&amp;disabled=false&amp;sessionID=1666393597540n9zaize3&amp;postID=64daa0aa076f45e9ed2b7c8e" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noindex noopener sponsored">LinkedIn</a>.

The iconic flying boat that helped hunt down Axis warships during World War II is getting a new lease on life

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A rare lizard species in Colorado reacts to stress-inducing loud noises by eating, a <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/famrs.2023.1129253/full">study</a> found.</li><li>Researchers studied the Colorado checkered whiptail, an all-female lizard species, in 2021.</li></ul>The urge to chow down during moments of high stress apparently transcends species.A <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/famrs.2023.1129253/full" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study published late last month</a> found that Colorado checkered whiptails respond to loud noises and related anxieties by eating copiously."We show that noise disturbance does have measurable physiological impacts on Colorado checkered whiptails," co-author Megan Kepas, a doctoral student at Utah State University said in a <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/983638">statement</a> published by EurekAlert. "We also show that they are somewhat resilient and may compensate for this to some degree by alter[ing] their feeding and movement behaviors."The rare, all-female species, which reproduce asexually, live exclusively in Colorado and boast long, thin tails, giving them their name. Researchers zeroed in on a collection of the reptiles located near Colorado Springs at the Fort Carson US military installation.The Army base is the site of frequent helicopter flyovers, as well as transport aircraft and fighter jets that soar just above the lizards' habitat, polluting the airspace with their deafening roars.That noise disturbance, it turns out, has a measurable effect on the lizards below. Multiple populations of whiptails, which are classified as "at risk" by the US Army and of "special concern" by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, reside in the 212 square mile radius of Fort Carson, including within the base's training area, where large aircraft frequently fly less than 20,000 feet above the ground. The authors of the study, which appeared in the <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/famrs.2023.1129253/full" target="_blank" rel="noopener">journal Frontiers in Amphibian and Reptile Science,</a> worked together with pilots at Fort Carson to research how the military-industrial complex is impacting the reptiles below.In June 2021, researchers asked Army pilots to fly over the Fort Carson training area at specific times and then abstain from flying in the area in order to compare and contrast the lizards' responses.Noise readings during the study period ranged from 33.9 decibels to 112.2 decibels — reaching levels equivalent to that of a power saw and which exceed the average pain threshold for most people. On non-flying days, the noise was akin to that of a humming fridge.<div type="image" title="A Javelin missile fired by soldiers with the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team heads toward a target during a live-fire training exercise on April 28, 2022 in Fort Carson, Colorado." height="2837" width="3782" msid="99226123" hostid="261" sizebytes="95014"></div>Researchers each day collected as many lizards as they could — 82 in total — observing their behavior for three minutes before the capture. Study participants weighed and measured the lizards, took their blood, and used a portable machine to conduct ultrasounds and determine which lizards were pregnant.After returning to the lab, researchers measured the stress hormone cortisol in the lizards' collected blood samples."Behavioral responses to noise pollution often translate into stress responses, as loud noises increase cortisol levels in several species," the study authors wrote.Cortisol is typically released in the minutes following the onset of a stressful situation, and the study participants found that the whiptails' blood concentrations of cortisol skyrocketed immediately after the military flyovers. So how did those stressed-out lizards respond to the high levels of stress? The way so many of us do: by eating.Researchers found that the whiptails moved around less and ate more following the aircraft disturbances, in an apparent effort to replenish the energy they lost while stressing about the noise. "Compensatory eating would allow individuals to maintain their energy levels during a stressful event. This is important because metabolism, physical activity, investment into reproduction, and hormonal responses require energy," Layne Sermersheim, a master's student at Utah State University and a study author, said in a statement.While comparable studies found similar "freezing" responses among other animals during moments of high stress and loud noise, the discovery of the whiptails' eating response is particularly "novel," according to the study authors. In order to help the lizards thrive, the study's authors recommended that pilots avoid flyovers in heavily populated whiptail areas during the species' breeding season, and suggested flying high enough to keep the noise level below 50 decibels on the ground.

An all-female lizard species that reproduces asexually stress-eats to cope with the deafening racket of jets at a nearby military base

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5bda4be8110d4c43eb7c5f77-1000/cover.jpg" border="0" alt="A U.S. Marine with 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, conducts ground guidance during an amphibious landing during Exercise Trident Juncture 18 in Alvund, Norway, Oct. 30, 2018." data-mce-source="U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Patrick Osino" data-mce-caption="A U.S. Marine with 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, conducts ground guidance during an amphibious landing during Exercise Trident Juncture 18 in Alvund, Norway, Oct. 30, 2018.">U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Patrick OsinoA U.S. Marine with 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, conducts ground guidance during an amphibious landing during Exercise Trident Juncture 18 in Alvund, Norway, Oct. 30, 2018.</img></div></div></div>US forces are currently participating in the largest NATO war games in decades, practicing storming the beaches in preparation for a fight against a tough adversary like Russia.The Trident Juncture 2018 joint military exercises involve roughly 50,000 troops, as well as 250 aircraft, 65 ships, and 10,000 vehicles. During the exercises, US Marines, supported by Navy sailors, rehearsed amphibious landings in Alvund, Norway in support of partner countries.A landing exercise on Oct. 29 consisted of a <a href="https://www.marines.mil/News/News-Display/Article/1676162/24th-meu-executes-amphibious-assault-during-trident-juncture-18/">combined surface/air assault</a> focused on rapidly projecting power ashore. During the training, 700 Marines with the Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Division took the beach with 12 amphibious assault vehicles, six light armored vehicles, and 21 high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles.&#xa0;The Marines conducted another assault, which can be seen in the video below, the following day.These photos show US Marines, with the assistance of their Navy partners, conducting amphibious assault exercises in Norway on Oct. 30.<div><iframe src="https://www.dvidshub.net/video/embed/636451" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

Here's what it looked like when US forces stormed the beach during massive NATO war games in Norway

NEW DELHI: <keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">Prime Minister</keyword> <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword>'s maiden five-day visit to <keyword id="6355311" type="COUNTRY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Japan">Japan</keyword> saw the latter nation pledging financial support for building infrastructure in India. Sticking to his 'Make in India' slogan, Modi gave an open invitation to Japanese companies to consider India as a 'competitive low-cost manufacturing hub'. 
 
The meet also saw India-Japan relations being upgraded to the level of 'Special Strategic Global Partnership'. We take a look at the ten takeaways from PM Modi's visit: 
 
1) PM Modi's 3D mantra: Inviting Japanese investors to 'Make in India', PM Modi said, "There is no better place than India for Japanese investors. India is one of the most competitive markets in the world." 
 Addressing Japan's Nikkei Exchange, Modi said that India offers the three essential 'Ds' for <keyword id="80597" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Businessmen">businessmen</keyword> to thrive namely; Democracy, Demography and Demand. "It is important for Japan to move to low cost hubs of manufacturing." 
 
Promising a conducive environment for investors, Modi said, "Foreign investors need a proper environment to grow in India. We are working towards improving ease of doing business in India." "There is no red tape but red carpet in India. We have eased off a lot of regulations," Modi sought to assure. 
 
2) Bullet trains: With Japan committing to fund bullet trains, the dream of running high-speed trains on Indian tracks is now a step closer. 
 
Modi's dream project got a big push after Japan expressed readiness to provide financial, technical and operational support to introduce bullet trains in India in a joint statement. 
 
The first high-speed train is expected to run between Ahmedabad and Mumbai at an estimated cost of around Rs 60,000-70,000 crores. 
 
As Japan is a pioneer in running superfast trains, the agreement is expected to help Modi achieve his dream of a bullet train for India running at a maximum of 300 km per hour. 
 
3) Two nominees of Japan in PMO's special team: PM Modi announced that a special management team would be set up directly under the Prime Minister's Office to facilitate investment proposals from Japan. 
 
The decision to include two nominees of Japan in the special management team is unprecedented and such a system of having nominees of the foreign government will happen for the first time. Modi said that the two nominees selected by Japan would also be part of the decision-making team which evaluates business proposal. 
 
4) 'Special Strategic Global Partnership': Japan and India have upgraded their partnership to the level of 'Special Strategic and Global Partnership' with the signing of a defence pact for regional stability and <keyword id="4741" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tokyo">Tokyo</keyword>'s decision to double <keyword id="44528" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="FDI">FDI</keyword> in India. 
 
India and Japan also decided to "upgrade" and "strengthen" their defence cooperation as they asked officials to launch consultations to promote military equipment collaboration and accelerate discussions on modalities for the sale of Japanese US-2 amphibian aircraft. 
 
The two sides signed a Memorandum of Cooperation and Exchanges in the Field of Defence during Modi's five-day visit. "We intend to give a new thrust and direction to our defence cooperation, including collaboration in defence technology and equipment, given our shared interest in peace and stability and maritime security. We have also decided to expand our cooperation in advanced technology, science and technology, people-to-people exchanges, educational exchanges, etc," Modi said at the joint press briefing with Abe. 
 
The two sides stressed on the importance of the regularisation of bilateral maritime exercises as well as on Japan's continued participation in India-US Malabar series of exercises. 
 
5) Civil nuclear deal remains elusive: Despite last-minute negotiations, the two sides could not narrow down differences over Tokyo's insistence for a tougher safe-guard regime and "no nuclear test" clause in the bilateral agreement. 
 
Japan wants India to guarantee not to conduct nuclear tests and more stringent inspections of its nuclear facilities to ensure that spent fuel is not diverted to make bombs. 
 
India has been insisting on self-imposed moratorium on its tests and does not agree to Tokyo's insistence on the clause in the text of the agreement that provides for automatic termination of nuclear ties if India conducts test in future. 
 
Addressing a joint press briefing with Abe, Modi said, "In recent months, we have made significant progress in our negotiations on civil nuclear cooperation. Today, we have discussed this issue at length. We have reached better understanding of each other's positions through this discussion. 
 
We have agreed to instruct our negotiators to work expeditiously to conclude the negotiations at an early date so that we can further strengthen our strategic partnership." Abe commended India's efforts in the field of non-proliferation, including the affirmation that goods and technologies transferred from Japan would not be used for delivery systems for weapon of mass destruction. 
 
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6) Japan to invest over $33.58 billion in India: Japan announced doubling of its private and public investment in India to about $34 billion over the next five years. The 3.5 trillion yen ($34 billion) of investment from Japan to India including Official Development Assistance(ODA) during a 5-year period will be under the aegis of India-Japan Investment Promotion Partnership for development of projects including infrastructure and building of smart cities. 
 
The five-year period will also see the doubling of the presence of Japanese firms in India, Abe said. 
 
7) Japan lifts ban on 6 Indian entities: Japan lifted ban on HAL and five other Indian entities, which had been imposed in the aftermath of the 1998 nuclear tests, amid Modi's assertion that cooperation between the two countries in defence and security will get a "new direction". 
 "Japan has decided to remove ban on some entities," Modi said. Sources later said the ban had been lifted on six entities, including <keyword id="468489" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Hindustan-Aeronautics-Limited-">Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.</keyword> However, four entities still remain in the banned list. 
 
The removal of the ban will enable these companies to have cooperation with Japanese firms, including transfer of technology. 
 
8) Japanese companies to speedy clearance: Holding that the environment of "disappointment" was over, Modi invited Japanese businesses to join India's developmental efforts with a promise of non-discriminatory and speedy clearances. 
 
Inviting Japanese businesses, particularly to infrastructure and clean energy sectors, the Prime Minister asked them to keep in mind the Gujarat experience. 
 
He promised single-window clearances, speedy decision- making which is non-discriminatory in nature. 
 
9) New TCS training initiative: PM Modi inaugurated <keyword id="2499762" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="TCS-Japan-Technology">TCS Japan Technology</keyword> and Culture Academy, which will work towards enhancing technology and cultural knowledge between IT professionals of the two nations. 
 
Modi also flagged off the first batch of 48 TCS Japan trainees, who will proceed to India to undergo training for 6-8 weeks at various TCS locations. 
 
"The 21st century is the century of knowledge and technology and all of you will gain knowledge from travelling in India... You are going as employees of TCS but I want you to come back to Japan as ambassadors of India," Modi said. 
 
Known for his communicating skills, Modi joined the ceremonial Japanese drummers to perform a jugalbandi with them as he drummed up support for Indian business in Japan. 
 
Modi tried his hands at drums while inaugurating the TCS Cultural Centre. The Prime Minister was inspired after watching the drummers and joined them, much to the amusement of the gathering. 
 
10) Modi deplores 'expansionist' tendency of some countries: Modi deplored the "expansionist" tendency among some countries which "encroach" upon seas of others, in oblique comments against China which is having a maritime dispute with Japan. 
 
"The whole world accepts that the 21st century will belong to Asia. But I have a question. How should the 21st century be? We have to give an answer to this. It will depend on how deep and progressive our relationship (between India and Japan) is," he said. 
 
"We have to decide if we want to have 'vikas vaad' (development) or 'vistar vaad' (expansionism) which leads to disintegration. Those who follow the path of Buddha and have faith on 'vikas vaad', they develop. But we see, those having ideas of the 18th century, engage in encroachments and enter seas (of others)," he said. 
 
He did not name any country but the comments may be seen as targeting China which is engaged in territorial disputes with a number of its neighbours, including India, Japan and some others including Vietnam. 
 
(With inputs from PTI)

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