In diplomatic circles of New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s response to a congratulatory message from Taiwan President Lai Ching-te on his recent election victory has drawn attention, particularly given the strained relations between India and China.
President Lai, among numerous global leaders, congratulated Modi on securing a third term via a post on a social media platform. He expressed eagerness to bolster the burgeoning Taiwan-India partnership, emphasizing collaboration on trade, technology, and other sectors for the prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region.
Modi reciprocated shortly after, thanking Lai for his warm wishes and expressing anticipation for strengthened ties, aiming for mutually beneficial economic and technological cooperation.
In stark contrast, Chinese leadership has not yet extended congratulations to Modi. Instead, there was a reserved response from the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson during a routine media briefing, followed by a congratulatory message from the Chinese ambassador through a social media post.
The spokesperson emphasized the importance of a healthy and stable China-India relationship for regional peace and development, expressing China’s readiness to work with India towards advancing bilateral relations on a stable trajectory.
Meanwhile, Modi has publicly mentioned Taiwan on at least two occasions recently, highlighting collaborations such as the semiconductor fabrication facility project in Gujarat and extending condolences after an earthquake in Taiwan.
This increased mention of Taiwan in Indian discourse signals a shift in traditional diplomatic practices. Kuan-Ting Chen, a Taiwanese MP, hailed Modi’s response to Lai’s message as a “new chapter” in Taiwan-India relations, foreseeing natural alignment between the two nations as leaders in AI and IT.
Bilateral trade between India and Taiwan reached $8.2 billion in 2023, with India emerging as Taiwan’s 16th largest trading partner. Plans for Taiwan to establish its third representative office in Mumbai later this year further underscore the growing ties between the two countries, which also includes hosting thousands of Indian students in Taiwan.