Question

India has begun discussions with which of the following countries on launching a trilateral Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) to reduce dependency on China, necessitated by Beijing's aggressive political and military behaviour?

• A. Sri Lanka and Japan
• B. Japan and South Korea
• C. Japan and Australia
• D. New Zealand and Australia

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The question asks about the countries involved in launching a trilateral Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) with India to reduce dependency on China. The correct answer is "Japan and Australia."

Explanation and Reasoning:

1. Understanding the Context:
   • The Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) is a strategic move aimed at enhancing and diversifying supply chains by involving like-minded countries to foster resilience against disruptions, especially those caused by political or military tensions.
2. Background:
   • This initiative comes in response to China's increasingly aggressive political and military posture, which has highlighted the risks of over-dependence on Chinese supply chains.
3. Checking the Options:
   • Sri Lanka and Japan: While Japan is a major player in the SCRI, Sri Lanka is not part of the trilateral discussions with India and Japan.
   • Japan and South Korea: Although Japan is involved, South Korea is not part of this particular initiative with India and Australia.
   • New Zealand and Australia: While Australia is a key player, New Zealand is not involved in this specific trilateral initiative with India and Japan.
   • Japan and Australia: Both countries, Japan and Australia, together with India, are indeed the partners discussing the SCRI to build more robust and diversified supply chains.
4. Conclusion:
   • Thus, the correct answer is "Japan and Australia" as these are the countries collaborating with India on the SCRI to mitigate supply chain risks associated with China's aggressive strategies.

This initiative is vital for ensuring economic stability and strategic security by collaborating with reliable and trustworthy international partners.