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China has lodged a protest with India over the exchange of messages between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te following Modi's re-election to a third term.
In a statement, Taiwan's foreign ministry dismissed China's protest, accusing Beijing of using 'political coercion' and spreading 'fallacies' to confuse the international community.
The ministry emphasized that Taiwan is a 'sovereign and independent country' and that its interaction with the world community is based on shared values of freedom, democracy, and human rights.
China has traditionally insisted on countries adhering to the 'one-China' policy, but India stopped referring to it in official documents and pronouncements more than a decade ago.
Taiwan's foreign ministry stated that it will continue to deepen cooperation with India in various sectors and maintain close friendly relations, reaffirming its commitment to democracy and working with countries with similar ideals to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Despite the lack of formal diplomatic relations between India and Taiwan, they have established representative offices in each other's capitals since 1995, and Taiwanese firms play a significant role in India's efforts to attract technology and know-how from abroad.
China's protest underscores the ongoing tensions between Beijing and Taipei, as well as its sensitivity to any perceived challenges to its claim over Taiwan, which it regards as a renegade province.
Taiwan, on the other hand, has consistently maintained its independence and sought to strengthen its international presence, despite China's objections.
The exchange of messages between Modi and Lai was seen as a symbolic gesture of support and friendship between India and Taiwan, and China's reaction highlights the complex geopolitical dynamics in the region.
It remains to be seen how India will respond to China's protest, and whether the diplomatic maneuvering between the three countries will have further implications for regional stability.
Source: Taiwan rejects China’s protest over messages between Indian and Taiwanese leaders