(TibetanReview.net, Jun07’24) —Although the exchanged messages were devoid of any political contents, China on Jun 6 took exception to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s acknowledgement of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s congratulations on his alliance’s victory in the just concluded general election.
Writing on the X (formerly Twitter) platform, Modi had said he was looking forward to closer ties as “we work towards mutually beneficial economic and technological partnership”.
Taking note of it, the Chinese foreign ministry urged India to resist Taiwan’s “political calculations’” and not do anything to violate the “one-China principle”.
In his congratulatory message, Lai had said he wanted to enhance the partnership and expand collaboration on trade, technology and other sectors to contribute to peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.
China opposes any political contact between Taiwan and countries with which it has diplomatic relations. It said a protest had been lodged with Indian authorities, adding New Delhi was familiar with China’s “clear” position on the issue.
“The one-China principle is a universally recognised norm in international relations and a prevailing consensus in the international community. India has made serious political commitments on this and is supposed to recognise, be alarmed about and resist the Taiwan authorities’ political calculations. China has protested to India about this,” foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning has said.
Commenting on the development, US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller has told reporters on Jun 6 at his daily news conference, “I would say that such congratulatory messages are the normal course of diplomatic business.”
China views democratically self-ruled Taiwan as a rebel province that must be reunified with the mainland, even by force, if necessary.
China earlier issued an official statement through its newly appointed ambassador Xu Feihong on Modi’s re-election.
Like other countries which have diplomatic ties with China, India too follows the one-China policy, even though there has been no public iteration of it since 2010 due to Beijing’s claim on Arunachal Pradesh and its pro-Pakistan policy on the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.