fsayed
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2013
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- 2,606
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@nair @proud_indian @Roybot @jbgt90 @Sergi @Water Car Engineer @dadeechi @kurup @Rain Man @kaykay @Abingdonboy @SR-91 @nang2 @Stephen Cohen @anant_s
@jbgt90 @ranjeet @4GTejasBVR @The_Showstopper @guest11 @ranjeet
@GURU DUTT
My previous blog focussed on the need for the Indian and Chinese leaderships to work together to facilitate India’s entry to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). In this context I mentioned that the motives and moves of the Chinese leadership needed to be read better. For let’s accept the fact that understanding the Chinese mindset requires specialised insights. And since India has no other option but to deal with China, New Delhi needs to work out a new compact with Beijing.
The Narendra Modi government has already taken some steps in this direction. The approach has been to engage China more confidently and cast aside the baggage of the 1962 war. However, both the NSG issue and the earlier visa-for-Uighur-dissidents fiasco show that more needs to be done to bridge the gulf in understanding. And one player that can help us in this regard is Taiwan. True, China considers Taiwan as a renegade province and seeks eventual reunification. However, Taiwan – officially Republic of China – has remained de facto independent since 1949. Moreover, Taiwan has managed to evolve a robust multi-party democracy with deep roots.
And the last presidential and legislative elections in Taiwan brought to power the pro-Taiwan independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Although current President Tsai Ing-wen has stated that her administration intends to maintain the status-quo in relations with China – underpinned by the principles of no independence, no unification and no use of force – Beijing still views the new dispensation in Taipei with suspicion. Meanwhile, the DPP government is keen on reviving Taiwan’s ‘Go South’ policy to boost engagements with Southeast Asian nations as well as India. This is motivated by Taiwan’s desire to diversify its investment portfolio which it believes is currently too China-centric
Hence, Taiwan is looking at India’s smart cities and green energy projects as possible investment destinations. These are project areas where Taiwan already has significant experience. Plus, investments in these Indian sectors will also boost Taiwan’s information and communication technology and electronic services industries which have been prioritised by the DPP administration.
But the most valuable returns from boosted India-Taiwan cooperation will accrue on the strategic front. Taiwan knows China better than any other player. Taipei has to regularly deal with Beijing, through appropriate institutions and intermediaries, in a variety of areas. Plus, over the last eight years, economic engagements between Taiwan and China have increased dramatically. So have people-to-people contacts and business-to-business ties. Against this backdrop, it would be prudent for India to work with Taiwan to read China better.
True, India doesn’t officially recognise Taiwan. And New Delhi has been coy in engaging Taipei on strategic matters in the past. But with the Modi administration willing to take recourse to new ideas and strategies, it should not hesitate in seeking strategic inputs on China from the Taiwanese. Besides, if China and Taiwan can do business and engage each other, there’s no reason why India and Taiwan shouldn’t scale up their ties. And the Modi government’s bold foreign policy approach and Taiwan’s ‘Go South’ strategy perfectly complement each other to lay the platform for a new understanding between New Delhi and Taipei.
@jbgt90 @ranjeet @4GTejasBVR @The_Showstopper @guest11 @ranjeet
@GURU DUTT
My previous blog focussed on the need for the Indian and Chinese leaderships to work together to facilitate India’s entry to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). In this context I mentioned that the motives and moves of the Chinese leadership needed to be read better. For let’s accept the fact that understanding the Chinese mindset requires specialised insights. And since India has no other option but to deal with China, New Delhi needs to work out a new compact with Beijing.
The Narendra Modi government has already taken some steps in this direction. The approach has been to engage China more confidently and cast aside the baggage of the 1962 war. However, both the NSG issue and the earlier visa-for-Uighur-dissidents fiasco show that more needs to be done to bridge the gulf in understanding. And one player that can help us in this regard is Taiwan. True, China considers Taiwan as a renegade province and seeks eventual reunification. However, Taiwan – officially Republic of China – has remained de facto independent since 1949. Moreover, Taiwan has managed to evolve a robust multi-party democracy with deep roots.
And the last presidential and legislative elections in Taiwan brought to power the pro-Taiwan independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Although current President Tsai Ing-wen has stated that her administration intends to maintain the status-quo in relations with China – underpinned by the principles of no independence, no unification and no use of force – Beijing still views the new dispensation in Taipei with suspicion. Meanwhile, the DPP government is keen on reviving Taiwan’s ‘Go South’ policy to boost engagements with Southeast Asian nations as well as India. This is motivated by Taiwan’s desire to diversify its investment portfolio which it believes is currently too China-centric
Hence, Taiwan is looking at India’s smart cities and green energy projects as possible investment destinations. These are project areas where Taiwan already has significant experience. Plus, investments in these Indian sectors will also boost Taiwan’s information and communication technology and electronic services industries which have been prioritised by the DPP administration.
But the most valuable returns from boosted India-Taiwan cooperation will accrue on the strategic front. Taiwan knows China better than any other player. Taipei has to regularly deal with Beijing, through appropriate institutions and intermediaries, in a variety of areas. Plus, over the last eight years, economic engagements between Taiwan and China have increased dramatically. So have people-to-people contacts and business-to-business ties. Against this backdrop, it would be prudent for India to work with Taiwan to read China better.
True, India doesn’t officially recognise Taiwan. And New Delhi has been coy in engaging Taipei on strategic matters in the past. But with the Modi administration willing to take recourse to new ideas and strategies, it should not hesitate in seeking strategic inputs on China from the Taiwanese. Besides, if China and Taiwan can do business and engage each other, there’s no reason why India and Taiwan shouldn’t scale up their ties. And the Modi government’s bold foreign policy approach and Taiwan’s ‘Go South’ strategy perfectly complement each other to lay the platform for a new understanding between New Delhi and Taipei.
