Come together on the Abe road

摘要

When Japan's prime minister, Shinzo Abe, belatedly took to Twitter, the first world leader he followed-and still one of the very few people he tracks-was his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi. Periodically the two men engage in effusive courtship over the Twittersphere. Much draws them together. Both are nationalist leaders of big Asian democracies, with a dark side that often rankles: Mr Abe has a tin ear when it comes to imperial Japan's wartime atrocities, while Mr Modi averts his gaze from the Hindu bigotry of some of his devotees. Both want to assert the greatness of their countries by promoting growth-spurring reforms and closer military ties with the West. Both covet permanent seats on the un Security Council. And though China remains their biggest trading partner, both want to counterbalance its military rise.