{"id":1472121,"date":"2024-06-19T19:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-19T23:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bugaluu.com\/news\/?p=1472121"},"modified":"2024-06-19T19:30:00","modified_gmt":"2024-06-19T23:30:00","slug":"modis-nod-to-closer-ties-with-taiwan-suggests-indias-evolving-act-east-policy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bugaluu.com\/news\/modis-nod-to-closer-ties-with-taiwan-suggests-indias-evolving-act-east-policy\/1472121\/","title":{"rendered":"Modi’s Nod To Closer Ties With Taiwan Suggests India’s Evolving ‘Act East Policy’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Modi’s Nod To Closer Ties With Taiwan Suggests India’s Evolving ‘Act East Policy’<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Authored by Venus Upadhayaya via The Epoch Times<\/a> (emphasis ours),<\/em><\/p>\n

After being sworn in as India\u2019s prime minister for a third consecutive term, Narendra Modi received congratulatory messages from a diverse array of world leaders around the globe.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gives a victory symbol at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in New Delhi on June 4, 2024. (Adnan Abidi\/Reuters)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

However, one leader who stood out was Taiwan\u2019s newly elected president, Lai Ching-te. <\/strong>In response to his message, Mr. Modi not only thanked Mr. Lai but reciprocated with a message highlighting the strengthening ties between China\u2019s two frontline adversaries.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Geopolitical analysts told The Epoch Times that the exchange of messages between the two leaders shows that India\u2019s Act East policy\u2014an initiative to promote economic, strategic, and cultural relations within the Asia-Pacific region\u2014is shaping up and now encompasses Taiwan. The cordial exchange also highlights strategic concerns shared by the two countries, and their mutual dependence for economic growth.<\/p>\n

\u201cIndia\u2019s Act East policy is taking shape, while its definition and scope of \u2018Indo-Pacific\u2019 is broadening<\/strong>. New Delhi used to be focused on East Africa and up to the Malacca Strait. However, over the last few years, it has engaged in port calls in [the] Philippines, PNG [Papua New Guinea] and actively pursued relations with Taiwan, thus expanding from Malacca Strait to the Taiwan Strait,\u201d Akhil Ramesh, a geo-political analyst who leads the India program at the Honolulu-based Pacific Forum, said.<\/p>\n

Taiwan is currently recognized as a sovereign nation by only 12 nations. While India hasn\u2019t officially recognized Taiwan, diplomatic relations between the two countries have been on the rise, particularly since 2020\u2019s bloody Galwan conflict caused Indo\u2013China relations to plunge. Taiwan\u2019s exports to India increased by 13 percent last year, and as of February 2024, Taiwanese businesses have made investments in India.<\/p>\n

Ming-Shih Shen, director of national security research at Taipei\u2019s Institute for National Defense and Security Research, told The Epoch Times in an email that the interaction between Mr. Lai and Mr. Modi on social media platform X is based on what they want from each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cTaiwan President Lai Ching-te needs the attention and support of the international community and hopes to cooperate with regional powers to deter China<\/strong>, because India can threaten China from the west, and Taiwan and India have a common geopolitical interest, so there is more space for cooperation,\u201d Mr. Shen said.<\/p>\n

Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te delivers his inaugural speech after being sworn into office at the Presidential Office Building in Taipei, on May 20, 2024. (Sam Yeh\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Modi\u2019s and Lai\u2019s Interaction<\/h2>\n

The interaction between Mr. Modi and Mr. Lai occurred immediately after the election results were declared on June 4 and before Mr. Modi was formally sworn in on June 9.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy sincere congratulations to Prime Minister @narendramodi on his election victory,<\/strong>\u201d Mr. Lai said in a message on X<\/a> on June 5. \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

In response, Mr. Modi thanked Mr. Lai<\/a> for his \u201cwarm message\u201d and said he looks forward to \u201ccloser ties\u201d as India and Taiwan \u201cwork towards mutually beneficial economic and technological partnership.\u201d<\/p>\n

The exchange between the two newly elected leaders garnered considerable attention online. Mr. Lai\u2019s message has 2.5 million views to date, while Mr. Modi\u2019s response has 2.7 million views. However, the exchange didn\u2019t go over well in China.<\/p>\n

At a regular news conference on June 6, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning not only protested the interaction between Mr. Modi and Mr. Lai, but denied the existence of a Taiwanese president.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst of all, there is no such thing as \u2018president\u2019 of the Taiwan region,\u201d Ms. Mao said in response to a question by a Bloomberg reporter. \u201cAs 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\u2019s Republic of China.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ms. Mao told reporters that China had already lodged a protest with India about Mr. Modi\u2019s response to Mr. Lai.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe one-China principle is a universally recognized norm in international relations and a prevailing consensus in the international community,\u201d she said. \u201cIndia has made serious political commitments on this and is supposed to recognize, be alarmed about, and resist the Taiwan authorities\u2019 political calculations. China has protested to India about this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Indian Border Security Force troops patrol as an Indian army convoy passes through on a highway leading toward Leh, which borders China, in Gagangir, India, on June 19, 2020. (Yawar Nazir\/Getty Images)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Toward a Shared Global Footprint<\/h2>\n

Experts say that a shared Chinese threat has actually drawn Taiwan and India together. The two countries have shared interests, and Mr. Modi\u2019s response to Mr. Lai gives a clear message that their relationship is governed by that. The Indian prime minister\u2019s response also denotes India\u2019s wish to graduate from a regional role to a larger role in the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cIndia is reaching higher and wants to play a larger role in global affairs. So far, it has limited itself to [being] a regional player dealing with a string of pearls and other challenges China poses,\u201d said Mr. Ramesh. \u201cBy stretching itself far and wide, to Taiwan in the East and East Africa in the West, or the more recent IMEC [India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor], India wants to expand its global footprint.\u201d<\/p>\n

By expanding that footprint, India is aiming at \u201cglobal leadership, power through increased trade and commercial activity,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Mr. Shen said that India doesn\u2019t necessarily need Taiwan to compete with China.<\/strong> However, Taiwan\u2019s chip and semiconductor technology has become a new cooperation sector between the two countries, one that can help India to promote high tech and enhance its economy.<\/p>\n

\u201cEspecially after Taiwan has begun to invest in India, in the future, if it wants to improve India\u2019s semiconductor technology or artificial intelligence development, Taiwan is an indispensable partner,<\/strong>\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

During his second tenure, Mr. Modi\u2019s government began the country\u2019s ambitious semiconductor mission with an outlay of $10 billion in 2021. It advanced toward the goal with the Indian cabinet\u2019s approval early this year of three new plants, which are estimated to generate 20,000 advanced technology jobs and about 60,000 indirect jobs.<\/p>\n

Perhaps the most strategically important of these is a semiconductor fabrication plant worth $11 billion by India\u2019s Tata Group, in collaboration with<\/a> Taiwan\u2019s Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. The facility will be located in Dholera, Gujarat, in western India.<\/p>\n

According to the<\/a> Taipei Economic and Cultural Center, which represents Taiwan diplomatically in India, the investments in India until February of this year were primarily in electronics, information and communication technology, petrochemicals, steel, shipping, footwear manufacturing, automotive and motorcycle components, finance, and construction industries.<\/p>\n

Mr. Shen predicted that Taiwan\u2013India relations will continue to deepen and strengthen.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIn addition to open economic, trade and scientific and technological exchanges, maybe more in security and defense industry cooperation will begin as the relationship between the two countries gradually deepens. India needs [to] strengthen its defense and aviation industry capabilities, and Taiwan needs the defense industry cooperation market,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

An outdoor screen shows news coverage of China’s military drills around Taiwan, in Beijing on May 23, 2024. China began on May 23 what it called “Joint Sword-2024A” exercises, surrounding Taiwan with warplanes and navy ships and vowing “stern punishment” of separatist forces on the island. (Jade Gao\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

The Taiwanese analyst doesn\u2019t believe that India will establish formal relations with Taiwan because it doesn\u2019t want conflict with China. However, if it wants to strengthen its economy and develop enhanced comprehension of China\u2019s military intelligence, it must look to Taiwan.<\/p>\n

Mr. Shen said the main reason for China\u2019s anger at the interaction between Mr. Modi and Mr. Lai is fear.<\/p>\n

\u201cChina is afraid that the relationship between Taiwan and India will deepen, so that the Sino\u2013Indian border sovereignty issue and the conflict in the Taiwan Strait will be merged, and China\u2019s enemies may form alliances and cooperation.\u201d<\/p>\n

That situation will be a \u201cnightmare\u201d for communist party leader Xi Jinping<\/strong>, Mr. Shen said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Tyler Durden<\/a><\/span>
\nWed, 06\/19\/2024 – 15:30<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200bhttps:\/\/www.zerohedge.com\/geopolitical\/modis-nod-closer-ties-taiwan-suggests-indias-evolving-act-east-policy<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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