Editorial: Strengthen ties with Taiwan

Given the changing geopolitical realities in Asia, in the wake of China’s growing belligerence, there is a strong case for India to deepen its relationship — economic and strategic — with Taiwan, a tiny island state which has stood up to the hegemony of Beijing. In fact, it is surprising that New Delhi has never […]

Given the changing geopolitical realities in Asia, in the wake of China’s growing belligerence, there is a strong case for India to deepen its relationship — economic and strategic — with Taiwan, a tiny island state which has stood up to the hegemony of Beijing. In fact, it is surprising that New Delhi has never seriously attempted to shed its inhibitions and tap the unexplored potential of bilateral trade with Taipei. Long ignored for fear of incurring the wrath of Beijing, the time is ripe for a recalibration of India’s relationship with Taiwan. By any yardstick, the two countries should have been natural allies; both share democratic values, uphold human rights and the rule of law, and recognise the benefits of a rules-based international order. Taiwan is a unique political actor on the international stage. Despite being a vibrant democracy with a thriving economy, it has not received formal diplomatic recognition from most countries, including India, because they want to avoid provoking mainland China. Beijing claims sovereignty over Taiwan as a part of its ‘One China’ principle. Both New Delhi and Taipei have been the victims of Beijing’s territorial aggression. This should bring them closer as vibrant Asian democracies working for a common purpose. Given the bitter experience in the wake of Galwan Valley clashes and frequent Chinese intrusions across the LAC, India should review its adherence to the ‘One China’ policy.

The island state has been under growing military, diplomatic and economic pressure from China ever since the Democratic Progressive Party came to power in Taiwan in 2016 and refused to accept Beijing’s ‘One China’ formulation. Deepening ties with Taiwan offers several benefits for India. Being a semiconductor powerhouse, Taiwan can bring chip manufacturing to India. There are several avenues of bilateral cooperation, including trade, investment, tourism, and education — that have yet to be utilised optimally. To begin with, India can consider upgrading Taiwan to a consultative partner in its ‘Make in India’ initiative. Given the global shortage of microchips, a Taiwanese firm starting a manufacturing facility in India could be a game-changer. Much cooperation can also be achieved in green technology, IT, digital healthcare and telecom with Taiwanese companies looking to relocate operations from China. There is a potential point of convergence in the two countries’ foreign policy outlook: India’s ‘Act East Policy,’ which seeks to advance ties with Indo-Pacific countries, and Taiwan’s ‘New Southbound Policy,’ an effort to wean off Chinese markets. It would be in the interest of India to cultivate a more pragmatic relationship with Taiwan. In the context of a US-China trade war and China’s aggression in the Indo-Pacific region, now is an opportune moment for Taiwan and India to expand their relationship.

---