New Delhi: Amidst the aftermath of Taiwan’s recently concluded presidential election, which saw William Lai of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) emerging victorious, India expressed its eagerness to sustain and strengthen people-to-people exchanges with the island nation. The statement, made on Thursday, underscores India’s commitment to fostering shared prosperity and development through robust cultural, educational, trade, and investment links.
Addressing the media, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), acknowledged the recent developments in Taiwan. “India has strong and growing people-to-people ties encompassing culture, education, trade, and investment with Taiwan. The Government of India actively facilitates these exchanges and looks forward to their continuation for shared prosperity and development,” stated Jaiswal.
Despite warnings from China against supporting William Lai, who secured victory in Taiwan’s presidential election last Saturday, India remains resolute in its commitment to bilateral relations. Lai, in a post-victory statement to reporters, emphasized his crucial responsibility in maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. He expressed determination to shield Taiwan from perceived threats and intimidation originating from China.
China views Lai as a “separatist” due to his stance on Taiwan’s sovereignty, cautioning that his presidency poses a “severe danger” to cross-strait relations, as reported by ‘The Washington Post.’ The tensions between Lai and China trace back to 2017 when he identified himself as a “pragmatic worker for Taiwan independence,” sparking a controversy given Taiwan’s ambiguous political status.
In his recent campaign, Lai distanced himself from advocating formal independence, pledging to uphold the status quo and focus on preserving peace while strengthening Taiwan’s defenses. He also committed to elevating Taiwan’s global standing through enhanced partnerships with the United States and other democratic nations.
Although India adheres to the ‘One-China’ policy, maintaining no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, the island nation has established Taipei Economic and Cultural Centres in India for conducting business. Last July, Taiwan announced the opening of a new business office in Mumbai, its third in India, complementing the existing offices in Delhi and Chennai.
These representative offices play a crucial role in advancing Taiwan’s interests in India, compensating for the absence of an embassy. Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry recently commented on the substantial progress in various domains of cooperation between Taiwan and India, including economics, trade, science, technology, critical supply chains, culture, education, and traditional medicine.
