New Delhi: Taiwan Tuesday sharply criticised China for attempting to insert itself into the exchange of congratulatory messages between the president of the island territory and Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this month.
“I am sure Modi ji and our President would not be intimidated by that [China’s] reaction…They are leaders congratulating each other and I think that there is nothing wrong with that,” said Tien Chung-kwang, deputy foreign minister of Taiwan at Taipei.
He added: “I think they should keep on doing that — connect with all the like-minded countries, leaders and together form a solidarity of democracy, freedom and respect.”
The current war of words broke out after Taiwanese president Lai Ching-te, on 5 June, congratulated Modi for winning the Indian general election on social media platform X.
My sincere congratulations to Prime Minister @narendramodi on his election victory. We look forward to enhancing the fast-growing #Taiwan–#India partnership, expanding our collaboration on trade, technology & other sectors to contribute to peace & prosperity in the #IndoPacific.
— 賴清德Lai Ching-te (@ChingteLai) June 5, 2024
Modi in response thanked him for the “warm message” and added that he is looking forward to a closer economic and technological partnership between India and Taiwan.
A day later, Mao Ning, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, announced that Beijing sent an official protest to New Delhi over the exchange of messages between Lai and Modi on X, during a regular press briefing.
“First of all, there is no such thing as ‘president’ of the Taiwan region. As for your question, China opposes all forms of official interactions between the Taiwan authorities and countries having diplomatic relations with China. There is but one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People’s Republic of China,” said Mao.
The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson added: “The one-China principle is a universally recognized norm in international relations and a prevailing consensus in the international community. India has made serious political commitments on this and is supposed to recognize, be alarmed about and resist the Taiwan authorities’ political calculations. China has protested to India about this.”
India does not maintain official diplomatic ties with Taiwan and recognises the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate representative of China, along with about 180 other countries across the world.
After the election of Lai to the Taiwanese presidency earlier this year, tensions across the Taiwan Straits have increased. Last month, days after Lai’s inauguration, Beijing ordered mega military drills around the island territory to punish “separatist forces seeking independence”.
However, ties between Taipei and New Delhi continue to grow, with the two signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in February on labour cooperation. The MoU opens up the island territory to Indian workers.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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