World News
Visit By Taiwanese Parliamentarians To India Angers China
February 16, 2017 | By Sikh Siyasat Bureau
NewDelhi: China on Wednesday lodged a strong protest with India following a rare visit by a Taiwanese parliamentary delegation, warning New Delhi to follow the “One-China” policy and not have any official contact with Taipei.
As reported by the state media Beijing conveyed its annoyance within hours of getting the news about the visit and also termed the behaviour of India as a “provocateur” and accused New Delhi of playing with “fire” by hosting the Taiwanese delegation.
Moreover sharply criticising the visit, foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shung said “Beijing had lodged a “solemn representation” with New Delhi to not have any official contact with Taiwan”.
“Beijing was always opposed any kind of official contact between Taiwan and countries that have diplomatic ties with China” he said.
China considers Taiwan a breakaway province, which could be reunited by force if necessary.
File Photo
The media further reported spokesman Geng Shung saying “We are always opposed to any form of official contacts and exchanges between countries that have diplomatic ties with China and Taiwan and we are also opposed to the establishment of any official institutions.”
“We hope India would understand and respect China’s core concerns and stick to the One-China principle and prudently deal with Taiwan-related issues and maintain sound and steady development of India-China relations.”
Geng Shung in its statement to the state media described those visiting India as “so-called legislators from Taiwan” and added: ”The reason why China lodged the representation is because that we have been requiring countries that have diplomatic relations with China to fulfill their commitment to the One-China principle.”
The de facto Indian embassy in Taipei is called the India-Taipei Association and the Taiwanese maintain the Taipei Economic Cultural Center in New Delhi.
A delegation of three women MPs from Taiwan arrived in India on Monday for a three-day visit. The leader of the delegation, Kuan Bi-Ling, said Taiwan is “totally independent” said a report published in Hindustan Times (HT).
“It (the One-China policy) is a de facto reality…We suffered a lot because of the One-China policy. We have crafted a pragmatic approach in our diplomatic engagement with major countries, including India, despite these difficulties,” Kuan told while speaking with the media.
Earlier in May last year In May last year, India had reportedly backtracked from sending representatives to the swearing-in ceremony of then Taiwanese president-elect Tsai Ing-wen.
The visit of the Taiwanese delegation is a possible sign that both countries are attempting to increase political engagement without New Delhi moving away from the One-China policy.
“At a time when new US President Donald Trump has put the brakes on challenging China over the Taiwan question, agreeing to change course and respecting the One-China policy, India stands out as a provocateur,” it said the English vernacular.
“Some Indians view the Taiwan question as an Achilles’ Heel of the mainland. India has long wanted to use the Taiwan question, the South China Sea and Dalai Lama issues as bargaining chips in dealing with China,” writer Yu Ning wrote as opinion report in a Chinese newspaper.
He further views that “Taiwanese president-elect Tsai Ing-wen is exploiting India’s vigilance and strategic suspicions against China. The pro-independence leader came up with the ‘new southbound policy’ to ramp up trade and economic interactions in Southeast Asia, South Asia and Oceania, in which India is considered ‘not one of the, but the most’ important country…Tsai hopes to put pressure on the mainland by tying India and Taiwan closer.”
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Related Topics: China, Indo-China Relations, Taiwan
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