HomeWorldConnect with Taiwan to comprehend and counter China

Connect with Taiwan to comprehend and counter China

Experts claimed that the structural and domestic dynamics currently shaping the bilateral ties appear to be in sync and conducive for strengthening the partnership—a rare occurrence in the history of the India-Taiwan relations

@Kunal_Chonkar

New Delhi: Propounding the Kautilyan extrapolation ‘enemy’s enemy is my friend,’ foreign policy experts suggested an unconstrained acceptance of Taipei as an autonomous entity for people-to-people cooperation favoring a closer relationship between India and Taiwan. Speaking at a seminar organized by the Centre for China Analysis and Strategy (CCAS) and Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on ‘China’s imposition of the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL),’ the panel of speakers suggested strategic approaches and bilateral opportunities for India to bond with Taiwan – strengthening the relationship for real and taking it beyond the ambit of tactical leverage.

In his opening remark, Acting Representative of Taipei’s Economic and Cultural Center in India, Jack  Chih-Hao Chen called upon all democratic nations in the Indo-Pacific to strengthen cooperation to better respond to growing threats from Beijing.

“Taiwan has joined the international community in supporting Hong Kong against the implementation of the NSL. However, the Taiwanese people also fear that our nation could be the next target of Beijing,” Chen said while welcoming India’s ‘calculated’ comments on the situation in Hong Kong. With both nations sharing core values of freedom and democracy, Chen asserted that Taipei hopes to enhance the level and frequency of bilateral with New Delhi.

“Both nations are valued partners of each other. Taiwan also sees great potential in promoting collaboration on regional security and participation in global and multilateral platforms. By deepening all forms of interaction and exchange, India and Taiwan can further advance their common interests and develop successful cooperation,” Chen said, adding that the current scenario begets more than enough reasons for India and other democratic nations in the region to support Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Former Additional Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, and President of CCAS, Jayadeva Ranade pointed out that the potential for the discontent in Hong Kong to evolve into long-term civil disorder will be a concern for the CCP leadership. “If a resistance movement emerges in Hong Kong, it could undermine President Xi Jinping’s position and make it difficult for the CCP to justify the reunification of Taiwan with the mainland. At the least this will delay the CCP’s ‘China Dream’,” Ranade said, as he suggested the Indian leadership to not only take note of China’s assertiveness in implementing the NSL but also its recent sensitivity to criticism by the Indian media of Jinping.

“In order to safeguard the freedom of speech of Indian nationals and avoid their harassment from prosecution by China, it would be prudent to examine whether any of the Ministries of the Government of India have signed agreements or MoUs with China assuring the return, or incarceration, of individuals sentenced to imprisonment by China and, if so, to terminate such agreements or deals,” Ranade voiced.

Terming Beijing’s enforcement of the law as a ‘surprise attack tactic,’ Research Fellow at the Taiwanese Institute of European and American Studies, Dr. Cheng-yi Lin provided a comprehensive narrative on the NSL. He cited that the Chinese government using the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse has postponed the elections in Hong Kong for a year. “They will use the time to tighten their grip completely on social media, media (news), and educational institutions. Beijing will choke media freedom and the universities as well,” Lin said.

Attacking the Chinese for muscling an ambiguous law, Lin claimed that the ‘extra-territorial jurisdiction’ of the NSL could be applied to everyone, including Taiwanese nationals.

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“Using the NSL, people from Hong Kong can be taken for trial into China. This law is a mode to pave a way for the establishment of a new authoritative power in the region,” Lin said while explaining the operative powers of the new Chinese state-operated security mechanisms – the National Security Committee and the National Security Officer – in Hong Kong.

“China cannot be trusted. Taiwanese people are very wary of the developments in Hong Kong. There are fears that Taipei could well be the next target of Beijing. Thus, cooperation must deepen between nations against Beijing,” Lin said, as he asked New Delhi to devise a ‘political agenda’ to stage ‘determined talks’ with Taipei.

“Our (India-Taiwan) relations must develop. We need to have frequent dialogues and discussions – political, cultural – amongst our people,” Lin underscored. Meanwhile, Sana Hashmi, Taiwan Fellow at the Institute of International Relations at National Chengchi University questioned India’s ‘overt’ respect towards the One-China policy, and its ‘hesitation’ in diplomatically recognizing Taiwan.

“India feels that the closer it grows to Taiwan, the more animosity it will brew with China. While India hopes China to have a change of heart on territorial disputes, it fails to realize that Beijing will use the issue as a pressure point to keep New Delhi pre-occupied,” Hashmi observed. She pointed out that Taipei has time and again shown ‘willingness’ to engage with New Delhi, and time has come for India to take one-step in ‘positively reciprocating’ to Taiwan’s call.

“Cooperation in economic sectors can be the first move between both nations. Strong people-to-people connect, increase the level of interaction, and augmented awareness of each other in media should be practiced. India must interact with Taiwan for a better understanding of China,” Hashmi said.

Research Associate of the CCAS, Namrata Hasija, instrumented India’s new education policy as one of the stepping stones to achieve a ‘soft-diplomatic’ embrace between the two nations.

With India cracking a whip of the Beijing-promoted Hanban Confucius institutes, Hasija said that Taiwanese Mandarin-language centers can be ‘best replacements.’ “Taiwanese language centers come without the extra baggage that the Hanban Confucius institute brings into play. Taiwanese education level is on par with any of the western nations. Thus, Taipei can also start new educational projects in India,” Hasija said.

Realizing that a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Taipei and New Delhi is not on the horizon, Hasija proposed ‘tailor-made, sector-specific deals and agreements. “Information Technology, microchips, cyber hardware are some of the areas that both nations should shake hands on. With a boycott on Chinese goods – smartphones, Indian consumers are battling limited options in the cellphone segment. Taiwanese brands can easily fill that void,” she highlighted.

In the closing minutes of the session, Director-General of the Department of Policy Planning, MoFA, Klement Gu, while labeling the PRC as ‘a troublemaker’ said that autocracy and democracy are incompatible.

“Taiwan is democracy and we stand firmly with democratic India. We can guarantee, our democracy and our relations with New Delhi. We (India-Taiwan) must improve bilateral relations. There needs to be more political discussions and dialogues. Let us set an agenda and start the talks,” Gu enounced.

Kunal Chonkar
Kunal Chonkar
Worked in the national and international news industry for over 12 years, with extensive experience covering breaking news, diplomatic reporting, conflict and natural disasters. Has specialist knowledge and experience of Asian affairs. Proven track record of working with international missions and national government in his role as a media advisor, and political strategist. He holds a post-graduate degree in International Relations, and Sociology.

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