New Delhi: The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has renewed an agreement with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in India promoting joint research with academic institutions in Taiwan, and allowing for collaborative academic initiatives with a focus on Taiwan studies in India.
The original agreement was first signed in 2022. On Monday, JNU Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit signed the agreement along with Baushuan Ger, the Representative to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre (TECC), in the presence of Amitabh Mattoo, the Dean of the School of International Studies at JNU.
Amongst the areas covered under the agreement include joint research between JNU and institutions in Taiwan, conferences and forums, facilitating exchanges to deepen understanding between New Delhi and Taipei, and facilitating increased cooperation between the two sides.
At the signing event, Pandit pointed out Taiwan’s strong support for India in its fight against terrorism and highlighted the necessity for enhancing cooperation between the two sides, given the current geopolitical situation.
A few weeks earlier, JNU suspended its cooperation with the Inonu University in Türkiye, citing national security concerns. Other universities including Jamia Millia Islamia suspended cooperation with Turkish universities in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor.
Ankara has supported Pakistan since the launch of India’s Operation Sindoor. In contrast, Taiwan expressed its “firm” support for India to take all measures necessary to “safeguard” its national security.
Though India acknowledges the One China Policy, which recognises Taiwan as a part of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the two sides have maintained diplomatic links in recent years.
Last year, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his election victory. In response, Modi thanked the Taiwanese leader and sought “closer ties” with Taipei, in both the economic and technological arenas.
At the event, Buashuan Ger, the representative of the TECC in India, highlighted the need for enhancing cooperation and finding new avenues for the same between New Delhi and Taipei. The other attendees at the signing included Ravikesh, Registrar of JNU, Robert Hsieh Bor-huei, Deputy Representative of the TECC and Tsai Jen-Chun, Assistant Representative at the TECC.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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