Leaders around the world, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressed solidarity with Taiwan this week as it was hit by a 7.4-magnitude earthquake that killed 13 people. The Taiwanese national leaders expressed gratitude for Modi’s message of sympathy, but their strong reaction to the Chinese government’s comments reveals the changing dynamics of India-Taiwan-China relations.
After China’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations thanked the international community for expressing sympathy on the quake, the Taiwanese foreign ministry said, “The ministry solemnly condemns China’s shameless use of the Taiwan earthquake to conduct cognitive operations internationally. This shows China has no goodwill towards Taiwan.”
These words were a reflection of the rapidly deteriorating ties between China and Taiwan, which India is carefully watching. While Taiwan asserts its independence, China considers it a breakaway province.
In his message on X to the Taiwanese people, Prime Minister Modi said he was “deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to earthquakes in Taiwan”.
“We stand in solidarity with the resilient people of Taiwan as they endure the aftermath and recover from it,” he added.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, who is leaving office in May 2024, thanked PM Modi for his support at a “challenging time”, saying it meant a great deal to the people of Taiwan.
Taiwan’s current Vice-President and President-elect Lai Ching-te said the support and solidarity of the Indian PM were a source of strength to the country’s people during these trying times.
Meanwhile, the Taiwanese Foreign Ministry said it was “touched by your heartfelt words of sympathy and solidarity, PM Modi”.
China must have taken note of this exchange between Indian and Taiwanese leaders. Perhaps, Taiwanese leaders have for the first time directly interacted with the Indian PM, taking to X.
PM Modi’s X diplomacy on Taiwan, conducted in full public glare, indicates the growing bonhomie between India and Taiwan and the desire to further deepen this relationship.
India-Taiwan Mutual Need
In the fast changing geo-economic and geopolitical environment, India and Taiwan need each other to reduce their dependence on China.
Delhi and Taipei are embracing each other as both need to push forward their national interests.
Taiwan needs India to raise its stature in the comity of nations. India, meanwhile, needs Taiwan to not only strengthen its national economic and industrial capacities, but also to assert the ‘One India’ policy by deviating from its declared ‘One China’ policy.
India is getting closer to Taiwan to indicate to China that it is not bound by the One China policy, as China does not respect India’s unity and territorial integrity, whereas Taiwan is coming closer to India to tell China that it is aligning with a democratic power as Taiwan believes in democracy, human rights and rule of law.
Taiwan’s Southbound policy incorporates India as a strong partner, to which India is reciprocating positively.
India also has its Act East policy, for which it needs close cooperation with Taiwan, especially in the economic and hi- tech industrial domain.
Recent developments have shown that China cannot dictate India’s Taiwan policy.
As China continues its aggressive behaviour against the unity and integrity of India, the solidarity message from the Indian PM to Taiwanese leaders indirectly tells China that it must stop its anti-India tirade by renaming areas inside Indian territory in mandarin.
India-Taiwan Ties On An Upswing
Although India has not officially recognised Taiwan as an independent nation, for all practical purposes, India is closely interacting with Taiwan as an independent country.
Last year, India designated Manharsinh Laxmanbhai Yadav, who served in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), as its new representative in Taiwan.
India has not officially deviated from its One China policy, but it has refrained from referring to it since 2010 during interactions with China.
Since then, India-Taiwan relations have been on an upswing, and bilateral people-to-people ties along with trade and economic relations have seen a surge in recent years.
Around 2,500 Indian students study in Taiwan while bilateral trade has reached around $10 billion, of which India’s exports account for $2.63 billion. India is gradually shifting its hi-tech trade, like semiconductor chips, machinery and electrical equipment, from China to Taiwan, thus reducing its reliance on China for such critical products.
Taiwanese chip companies have decided to invest in India in the hi-tech sector, which will help make India self-reliant in these industries, a move also welcomed by the world community, as it will reduce the Chinese monopoly on the supply chain.
To conduct bilateral relations in various fields, both have signed several United Nations-recognised agreements.
India and Taiwan signed a bilateral investment agreement in 2002, which was upgraded in 2018. Both the countries have also signed an AEO (Authorised Economic Operator) Mutual Recognition agreement, a customs mutual assistance agreement, and an ATA (Admission Temporary Admission) agreement, which is jointly administered by the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and the International Chambers of Commerce.
India is now negotiating a free trade agreement with Taiwan.
The Indian government conducts its business and diplomatic engagement in Taipei through India Taipei Association, which has been authorised to provide all consular and visa services. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre plays the same role for Taiwan.
Taipei openly celebrates its National Day in India.
China takes strong exception and warns Indian media to adhere to the One China policy.
In October 2020, the Chinese embassy in New Delhi issued an advisory to the Indian media to stop referring to Taiwan as a country. But the deterioration in India-China relations has gradually warmed up India-Taiwan relations, and Indian media continues to highlight this, closely watched by the world community. China can only be a mute spectator to this development.
