India calls for restraint, de-escalation of tensions
With tension escalating between China and Taiwan, India on Friday, for the first time, said it is concerned over the developments and called for avoiding unilateral action to change the status quo in the region. India also favored exercising restraint and underlined the need for efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region. Comments by India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi came in the backdrop of China launching major military drills around Taiwan as part of its response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi‘s recent visit to Taiwan.
“Like many other countries, India too is concerned at recent developments,” Bagchi said at a media briefing. “We urge the exercise of restraint, avoidance of unilateral actions to change status quo, de-escalation of tensions, and efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region,” he said. In response to a question on India’s position on the One China principle, Bagchi’s said, “India’s relevant policies in this are well-known and consistent and do not require reiteration.”
It must be noted that though China provoked India two years ago border dispute, India always made measured statements. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is criticized in India from many quarters and by many politicians for the “silence” or the measured response against China and for shying away from naming China directly.
China considers Taiwan as its breakaway province. The Taiwanese government alleged that China used the military exercise as a practice to attack the country in the future. The US has been steadfast in its outreach to Taiwan in the face of increasing Chinese hostilities and reassuring Taipei of its continued support.
India has been promoting ties with Taiwan in areas of trade, investment, tourism, culture, education, and people-to-people exchanges. The volume of bilateral trade has grown nearly sixfold from USD 1.19 billion in 2001 to almost USD 7.05 billion in 2018 and India ranks as Taiwan’s 14th largest export destination and 18th largest source of imports, according to official data.
By end of 2018, around 106 Taiwanese companies were operating in India, with the total investment amounting to USD 1.5 billion in the fields of information and communication technology, medical devices, automobile components, machinery, steel, electronics, construction, engineering, and financial services. The two sides have also set up teams for further expansion of ties in education as well as skill development training.
India does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but both sides have trade and people-to-people ties. In 1995, New Delhi set up India-Taipei Association (ITA) in Taipei to promote interactions between the two sides and facilitate business, tourism, and cultural exchanges. India-Taipei Association has also been authorized to provide all consular and passport services. The same year, Taiwan too established the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in Delhi.
Meanwhile, even after the border dispute, India is exporting so much from China and the export-import gap is so higher with Chinese imports. The latest India – China trade deficit is more than 30 billion US dollars. India imports 42 billion dollars materials from China, while exports around 12 billion US dollars.[1]
Reference:
[1] India-China trade deficit stands at USD 30 billion during April – September. India imports 42 billion dollars from China, exports only 12 billion dollar – Dec 12, 2021, PGurus.com
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