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China has protested to India over an exchange of messages between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, saying that it opposes all interactions between Taiwanese authorities and countries having diplomatic ties with Beijing.
The protest came after Modi responded to a congratulatory message from Lai on his election victory, saying on X, formerly Twitter, that he looked forward to closer ties between India and Taiwan as “we work towards mutually beneficial economic and technological partnership”.
Lai was among world leaders who greeted Modi on securing a third term in a post on X. “We 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,” he wrote.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular media briefing in Beijing that China “has protested to India” about this matter.
Mao contended there is “no such thing as ‘President’ of the Taiwan region”, and said Beijing opposes all 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’s Republic of China,” she said.
Referring to Beijing’s “one-China” policy, Mao contended India has made “serious political commitments on this and is supposed to recognise, be alarmed about and resist the Taiwan authorities’ political calculations”.
However, India stopped referring to the “one-China” policy in official documents and pronouncements more than a decade ago after Chinese authorities issued stapled visas to residents of the border state of Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
Mao responded to another question on why China was protesting to India over somebody wishing an Indian leader by saying that India has diplomatic relations with China.
“This position is very clear and India knows this well,” she said, adding that India should refrain from doing things that violate the “one-China” policy.
Source: Exchange of messages on X between PM Modi and Taiwan President angers China