Taiwan’s President William Lai Ching-te, right pose for photos with American Institute in Taiwan’s (AIT) director Greene F. Raymond in Taipei, Taiwan on July 10, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

The United States’ new top envoy to Taiwan promised on July 10 that Washington will help the self-ruled island defend itself as China ramps up its military threats.

Raymond Greene, who assumed his new role as director of the American Institute in Taiwan on July 8, met with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te.

“First of all, and the most important thing, the U.S. will strongly support Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities,” Mr. Greene said. “We both have common and long-term interests in peace and stability over the Taiwan Strait.”

Also Read: Where do China-Taiwan relations stand? | Explained

Mr. Lai said Taiwan will strive to maintain the status quo with Beijing, which claims the island democracy of 23 million people as its own territory, to be reclaimed by force if necessary.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry also said Wednesday it detected 36 Chinese military jets, including J-16 fighters and H-6 bombers, flying south and southeast of the island and headed into the Western Pacific to carry out drills with China’s Shandong aircraft carrier.

The U.S., like most countries, does not recognize Taiwan as a country. But it’s the island’s main partner and is bound by U.S. laws to provide it with the means to defend itself. Less than a month ago, the U.S. State Department approved the sale to Taiwan of missiles and drones for an estimated $360 million.

In April, the House of Representatives approved an $8 billion military aid package for Taiwan.

“Taiwan and the U.S. are solid partners to each other who strive to maintain regional peace and stability,” Mr. Lai said Wednesday.

The Chinese government didn’t immediately comment on the meeting.

Also Read:Preventing a China-Taiwan conflict

The American Institute in Taiwan functions as a de facto embassy. Taipei also operates an Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S. and similar de facto embassies in other countries.

China has ramped up its military pressure against the island since Lai took office in May. Beijing sees Lai as a separatist and refuses to speak with him.

In late June, Beijing threatened to hunt down and execute “hardcore” Taiwan independence supporters. In response, Taipei urged its citizens to avoid traveling to China and the semi-autonomous Chinese territories of Hong Kong and Macao.

A supporter of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) holds a sign to support Taiwan’s independence during the vote for the Parliament reform bill in Taipei on May 28, 2024. File
| Photo Credit: AFP

China included the death penalty for “particularly serious” cases among judicial guidelines on criminal punishments for “diehard” supporters of Taiwanese independence published on June 21, state media reported.

Beijing views democratic Taiwan as part of its own territory and has refused to renounce using force to unify with the self-ruled island one day.

It has stepped up pressure on Taipei in recent years and held war games around the island last month following the inauguration of its new leader Lai Ching-te.

State news agency Xinhua said on Friday Beijing had released a notice about punishing “Taiwan independence’ diehards for splitting the country and inciting secession”.

It said the notice specified the death penalty for “ringleaders” of independence efforts who “cause particularly serious harm to the state and the people”.

Other leading advocates could face jail terms ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment, the notice said, according to Xinhua.

Taipei hit back swiftly, saying Beijing “has no legal jurisdiction at all over Taiwan” and that the rules “had no binding force on our people”.

“The actions of the Beijing authorities will only provoke confrontation between the peoples across the Taiwan Strait… and are not conducive to positive developments in cross-Strait ties,” the island’s Mainland Affairs Council said in a statement.

‘Sharp sword’

According to Xinhua, Beijing’s notice targets those who form “secessionist organisations” or direct people to “carry out activities that split the state”.

It also takes aim at attempts to “change Taiwan’s legal status as a part of China”, promote exchanges between Taiwan and sovereign nations, or “distort or falsify the fact that Taiwan is part of China in the fields of education, culture, history (or) news media”.

Also Read | China Embassy says no such thing as ‘president’ of Taiwan region

The rules take effect in China from Friday, Xinhua said.

Top security official Sun Ping told a news briefing in Beijing on Friday that the guidelines meant “the sharp sword of legal action will always hang high” over alleged secessionists, the state-run People’s Daily reported.

Mr. Sun said the rules “do not target most Taiwanese compatriots, only an extremely small minority” of independence advocates, according to the newspaper.

Mr. Lai, a member of the Democratic Progressive Party who took office on May 20, has hewn closely to the position of his predecessor Tsai Ing-wen that Taiwan is effectively already independent and so has no need to declare it formally.

Beijing has branded Mr. Lai a “dangerous separatist” and has not conducted top-level communications with Taipei since 2016.

It continues to maintain a near-daily presence of naval vessels and warplanes around Taiwan and held three-day drills last month dubbed Joint Sword-2024A that it said were a test of its ability to seize control of the island.

Representational image of a Taiwan flag
| Photo Credit: Reuters

The U.S. State Department has approved the possible sale to Taiwan of drones and missiles for an estimated $360 million, the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said.

The United States is bound by law to provide Chinese-claimed Taiwan with the means to defend itself despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties, to the constant anger of Beijing.

China has been stepping up military pressure against Taiwan, including staging war games around the island last month after the inauguration of Lai Ching-te as president.

The sale “will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region”, the Pentagon agency said in separate statements on Tuesday in the United States.

The sale includes Switchblade 300 anti-personnel and anti-armour loitering munitions and related equipment for an estimated cost of $60.2 million, and ALTIUS 600M-V drones and related equipment for an estimated cost of $300 million, the agency added. Loitering munitions are small guided missiles that can fly around a target area until they are directed to attack.

Taiwan’s defence ministry expressed its thanks, especially for U.S. efforts to increase arms sales to the island. Taiwan has repeatedly complained of delayed deliveries.

“In the face of the Chinese communists’ frequent military operations around Taiwan, these U.S.-agreed-to arms sales items will have the ability to detect and strike in real time, and can respond quickly to enemy threats,” it said in a statement.

Peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait require goodwill from China, the ministry added.

“It is hoped that the People’s Liberation Army will stop its oppressive military operations around Taiwan and jointly contribute to regional stability.”

China’s Defense Minister Dong Jun speaks during the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue summit at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore, Sunday, June 2, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

The prospect of peaceful “reunification” with Taiwan is being increasingly “eroded” by Taiwanese separatists and external forces, Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun said on Sunday, promising to ensure independence never happens.

China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, over the strong objections of the government in Taipei, and last month staged war games round the island in anger at the May 20 inauguration of President Lai Ching-te who Beijing calls a “separatist”.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue conference in Singapore, Mr. Dong said Taiwan was the “core of core issues” for China, but Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party is incrementally pursuing separatism and bent on erasing Chinese identity.

“Those separatists recently made fanatical statements that show their betrayal of the Chinese nation and their ancestors. They will be nailed to the pillar of shame in history,” he said.

“China stays committed to peaceful reunification, however this prospect is increasingly being eroded by separatists for Taiwan independence and foreign forces,” Mr. Dong added.

“We will take resolute actions to curb Taiwan independence and make sure such a plot never succeeds.”

China has been repeatedly angered by U.S. support for Taiwan, even in the absence of formal diplomatic ties, such as arms sales.

The government in Taipei says Taiwan is already an independent country, the Republic of China. The Republican government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong’s Communists who set up the People’s Republic of China.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has warned China not to cross a red line in the South China Sea, saying If any Filipino died as a result of Beijing’s wilful actions, Manila would consider it as close to “an act of war” and respond accordingly.

Addressing the defence-and-security focused Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore on Friday night, Mr. Marcos sought to deepen defence cooperation with the U.S. as he stands up to the Chinese military’s aggressive actions in the South China Sea.

“We shall strengthen our alliances with the United States and our strategic partnerships with Australia, Japan, Vietnam, Brunei, and all the other member states of ASEAN. We will also pursue more robust collaborations with countries such as the Republic of Korea, India amongst others,” Mr. Marcos said.

China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam claim parts of it.

Mr. Marcos said the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries had a vision for “peace, stability, and prosperity” in the South China Sea, but that this was being undermined by other actors.

“Unfortunately, this vision remains for now a distant reality. Illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions continue to violate our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction,” Mr. Marcos said.

“If a Filipino citizen was killed by a wilful act, that is very close to what we define as an act of war,” he said.

“We would have crossed the Rubicon. Is that a red line? Almost certainly,” he asserted.

China’s determining influence over the security situation and the economic evolution of this region is a permanent fact, he said.

“At the same time, the stabilising presence of the United States is crucial to regional peace. It’s never a choice. Both countries are important,” he underscored.

Mr. Marcos pointed out that security in the South China Sea, through which a huge volume of trade passes, is a global issue.

Mr. Marcos said tensions between the U.S. and China were destabilising for Southeast Asia, calling on Washington and Beijing to work harder to resolve disputes.

“Their rivalry is constraining the strategic choices of regional states. Their contest is exacerbating flashpoints and has created new security dilemmas,” Mr. Marcos said.

“The continued stability of this region requires China and the United States to manage their rivalry in a responsible manner,” he said.

Manila and Beijing have a long history of maritime territorial disputes, but tensions have worsened under Mr. Marcos, who has insisted the Philippines will not give up a “square inch of our territory”.

In recent months the simmering dispute between China and the Philippines over territory in the South China Sea has sharpened into aggressive clashes. Manila has denounced Chinese patrol ships firing water cannons at Philippine boats and supply vessels, injuring some personnel.

Mr. Marcos said on Friday that the South China Sea dispute is an issue that goes beyond the Asia-Pacific region.

The peace and stability of the South China Sea and the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea is a world issue, Mr. Marcos said.

The Philippines, a treaty ally of the U.S., is a key focus of Washington’s efforts to strengthen alliances and partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region as it seeks to counter China’s growing military might and influence.

Given its position in the South China Sea and proximity to self-ruled Taiwan, which China claims as its own, Philippine support would be crucial for the U.S. in the event of any conflict.

The Philippines expanded a 2014 agreement last year to give U.S. military access to another four of its military bases, taking the total number to nine, including two in the far north of the country, less than 450km from Taiwan.

The Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) also allows U.S. troops to rotate through and store defence equipment and supplies.

The U.S.’ growing presence in the region and its regular deployment of warships and fighter jets in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea have infuriated Chinese leaders in Beijing.

China has accused the U.S. of using the Philippines as a “pawn to stir up trouble in the South China Sea”, according to U.S.-China affair watchers and analysts.

China’s Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun is scheduled to address the annual Dialogue on Sunday and is expected to respond to China-related issues on the South China Sea.

The security forum in Singapore was attended by U.S. Defence Secretary Austin and defence chiefs from around the world.

China warned on May 24 of war over Taiwan and said it would ramp up countermeasures until “complete reunification” was achieved, as Chinese forces conducted military drills around the self-ruled island.

Warships and fighter jets encircled Taiwan on the second day of exercises that Beijing said were a test of its ability to seize the island, days after its new president was sworn in.

China’s military kicked off the two-day war games on Thursday morning, surrounding democratic Taiwan with naval vessels and military aircraft as it vowed the blood of “independence forces” on the island would flow.

The exercises were launched three days after Lai Ching-te took office and made an inauguration speech that China denounced as a “confession of independence”.

Beijing’s defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian said on Friday that Lai “has seriously challenged the one-China principle… pushing our compatriots in Taiwan into a perilous situation of war and danger”.

“Every time ‘Taiwan independence’ provokes us, we will push our countermeasures one step further, until the complete reunification of the motherland is achieved,” he said.

The drills are part of an escalating campaign of intimidation by China in which it has carried out a series of large-scale military exercises around Taiwan in recent years.

They are testing the “capability of joint seizure of power, joint strikes and control of key territories”, Li Xi, spokesman for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command, said on Friday.

Fighter jets loaded with live ammunition scrambled towards targets and bombers formed formations to combine with warships to simulate “strikes against important targets”, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

China, which split with Taiwan at the end of a civil war 75 years ago, regards the island as a renegade province with which it must eventually be reunified.

The dispute has long made the Taiwan Strait one of the world’s most dangerous flashpoints, and this week’s events have stoked fears that China may use military force to bring the island under mainland rule.

The United States, Taiwan’s strongest ally and military backer, “strongly” urged China on Thursday to act with restraint. The United Nations called for all sides to avoid escalation.

Common roots

As the drills – Codenamed “Joint Sword-2024A” – got under way, China said they would serve as “strong punishment for the separatist acts of ‘Taiwan independence’ forces”.

Footage published by China’s military showed soldiers streaming out of a building to battle stations and jets taking off to a rousing martial tune.

CCTV reported that Chinese sailors had called out to their Taiwanese counterparts at sea, warning them against “resisting reunification by force”.

An animated graphic published by the Chinese military showed missiles raining down on key targets on the island, declaring it would “cut off the blood vessels for Taiwan independence!”

At a tourist park on Pingtan — a Chinese island situated in the Taiwan Strait — visitors clambered over the rocky landscape to gaze out at the misty horizon as pop music blared from a loudspeaker at nearby tea stalls.

Others posed for pictures in front of a sign proclaiming “the closest distance between the motherland and Taiwan island”, 68 nautical miles (126 kilometres) away.

“We share common roots,” Chen Yan, a 60-year-old woman from Wuhan, told AFP about Taiwan.

“So I think there will definitely be unification,” she added.

Heads broken

China has repeatedly branded Lai a “dangerous separatist” who would bring “war and decline” to the island.

In a speech on Thursday, Lai said he would “stand on the front line” to defend Taiwan, without directly referring to the drills.

Beijing was incensed by his inauguration speech on Monday, in which he hailed a “glorious” era for Taiwan’s democracy.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin delivered a warning on Thursday that included language more commonly used by China’s propaganda outlets.

“Taiwan independence forces will be left with their heads broken and blood flowing after colliding against the great… trend of China achieving complete unification,” Wang told reporters.

Beijing’s Xinhua news agency and ruling party organ the People’s Daily ran editorials hailing the drills on Friday, while slamming Lai’s “treacherous behaviour” and promising a “severe blow”.

The drills are taking place in the Taiwan Strait and to the north, south and east of the island, as well as areas around the Taipei-administered islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin.

Beijing has said the drills will last until Friday but analysts say it could choose to extend the war games or launch missiles near Taiwan, as it did after a visit to the island by then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in 2022.

Taipei’s defence ministry said the Chinese military had gotten within 24 nautical miles of Taiwan’s main island.

Its coast guard reported on Friday that four Chinese vessels entered the “restricted waters” of two Taiwanese islands as two other vessels nearby provided support.

Taipei:

Taiwanese defence and coast guard officials said on Thursday dozens of Chinese warplanes and ships had been detected around the island, less than two weeks before self-ruled Taiwan’s inauguration for a new president.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has said it will not rule out using force to bring the island under Beijing’s control.

The Chinese military presence around the island announced by Taipei, which included another 23 warplanes and five naval vessels in the 24 hours leading up to 6 am, also came a day after a US warship sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait. 

The Coast Guard in Taipei said late on Thursday it had detected 12 Chinese ships around its outlying island of Kinmen.

Kinmen, administered by Taipei but located five kilometres (three miles) from the Chinese city of Xiamen, has seen heightened tensions in recent months, with Chinese coast guard ships maintaining a presence around it. 

The Taiwan Coast Guard said a fleet of seven ships “belonging to China’s maritime and fishery departments entered our restricted waters” around 3 pm local time (0700 GMT), about 4 nautical miles southwest of Kinmen. 

“We suspected the fleet, together with three Chinese fishing, boats, were engaged in maritime exercises,” it said. 

Around the same time, “another fleet of four Chinese coast guard ships entered our prohibited and restricted waters… and another ship sailed outside our waters.” 

The vessels left about 90 minutes later, the coast guard said, noting that this was “the fourth formation of Chinese coast guard ships sailing in Kinmen waters” in May. 

It was also the first time that Chinese coast guard ships “and other Chinese official ships” had sailed together at the same time, it said. 

“This has seriously undermined cross-strait peace, stability and navigation safety, hurt the feelings of people on both sides of the strait, and is unhelpful for peaceful exchanges across the Taiwan Strait,” the coast guard said.

China has stepped up patrols around Kinmen after a series of deadly fishing incidents earlier this year. 

A Chinese speedboat carrying four people capsized near Kinmen on February 14 while Taiwan’s coast guard was pursuing it, killing two people.

Another Chinese boat capsized in the area in March, also resulting in the deaths of two crew members.

Taiwan’s coast guard had defended its actions but the row has added to tensions, already high after Taiwan’s elections in January won by Vice President Lai Ching-te. 

Lai, like outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen, rejects China’s claim on Taiwan. 

Warship sail-through

Thursday’s maritime presence around Kinmen came after Taiwan’s defence ministry said it had detected nearly two dozen Chinese warplanes and five navy ships around the island in the 24 hours leading up to 6 am Thursday (2200 GMT).

That coincided with a US warship sailing through the Taiwan Strait, a narrow 180-kilometre (110-mile) body of water separating the island from China, on Wednesday. 

The USS Halsey destroyer “conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit on May 8 through waters where high-seas freedoms of navigation and overflight apply in accordance with international law”, the US 7th fleet said.  

It said the Halsey’s transit “demonstrates the United States’ commitment to upholding freedom of navigation for all nations as a principle”.

Chinese naval colonel Li Xi, spokesman for the Eastern Theatre Command, called the US warship sail-through “public hype”. 

He added in a statement late on Wednesday that the Eastern Theatre command had also organised naval and air forces “to monitor the passage of the US ship through the entire process”. 

“Troops in the theatre remain on high alert at all times and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and security,” the statement said. 

China had warned before Taiwan’s elections that Lai would bring “war and decline” to the island, making the lead-up to his May 20 inauguration a closely watched period.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

A Taiwan national flag flutters near the Taipei 101 building at the National Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall in Taipei, Taiwan, on May 7, 2023. Taiwan said Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023 that China sent 43 military aircraft and seven ships near the self-ruled island, the latest sign that Beijing plans no let-up in its campaign of harassment, threats and intimidation.
| Photo Credit: AP

Taiwan said Wednesday that China sent 43 military aircraft and seven ships near the self-ruled island, the latest sign that Beijing plans no let-up in its campaign of harassment, threats and intimidation.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said the figure was current for the 24 hours up to 6:00 a.m. Wednesday and that 37 of the aircraft had crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait, which China no longer recognizes as an informal divider between the sides.

It said Taiwan had monitored the situation, scrambled jet fighters, dispatched ships and activated land-based missile systems, all standard responses to Chinese military activities, which include crossing into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone but not into its actual airspace.

Such Chinese maneuvers have become frequent and aggressive since then- U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August 2022. China suspended military communication with the U.S. to show its displeasure over her trip to Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory to be brought under under its control by force if necessary.

China’s military maneuvers are seen as intended to break down Taiwanese morale, exhausting its pilots and other personnel and wearing down its equipment. Despite that, the present status of de-facto independence remains widely popular among the island’s voters and the defense budget has been increased to purchase new equipment from the U.S., its chief ally, and to produce some items locally, including submarines.

At an international defense forum in Beijing on Monday, China’s second-ranking military official Gen. Zhang Youxia reiterated threats by the Chinese government to retaliate against moves toward establishing Taiwan’s formal independence, saying that “no matter who tries to split Taiwan from China in any form, China and the Chinese military will never allow that to happen.”

Zhang, who is also vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, which oversees the world’s largest standing military, opened the three-day event in the absence of former Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu, who would have normally hosted the event.

Li was removed from his position last week after a two-month absence from public view. The government has not provided any reason for his removal.

The Beijing event, attended by military representatives from dozens of countries, was an occasion for China to project regional leadership and boost military cooperation. That comes despite frictions with the U.S., with Japan over an uninhabited East China Sea island group, with its Southeast Asian neighbors over China’s claim to virtually the entire South China and with India along their disputed border.

But in a sign that Washington and Beijing were considering a possible resumption of military dialogue, the U.S. was represented at the forum by a delegation led by Cynthia Carras, the Defense Department’s leading official on China. As of Wednesday, it appeared she had departed without holding any formal meetings with Chinese officials or speaking to the media.

Representational image of Foxconn logo seen atop the company’s headquarters in New Taipei City, Taiwan
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Taiwan Vice President Lai Ching-te on Tuesday hit out at China over its probe of major Apple supplier Foxconn, saying Beijing should “cherish” Taiwanese companies and not put pressure on them during an election.

Foxconn is facing a tax probe in China, two sources close to the company said on Monday, confirming a report in China’s state-backed Global Times.

The sources said they believed it was disclosed for political reasons tied to Taiwan’s January elections where the company’s founder Terry Gou is running as an independent candidate for president.

The Global Times, in an English-language story late on Sunday, said by running, Mr. Gou might split the opposition vote, potentially ensuring a victory for Lai who is already leading in the polls.

China claims Taiwan as its own territory and Beijing detests Mr. Lai, whom it believes is a separatist. He says only Taiwan’s people can decide their future, and Beijing has rebuffed his offers of talks.

Speaking at a news conference in Taipei and asked about Beijing’s probe into Foxconn, Mr. Lai said China should “cherish and treasure” Taiwanese companies given their help in that country’s economic development.

“During an election, China does not need to put pressure on Taiwanese companies, demanding they declare a position, or even that they directly support a candidate they prefer,” he said.

Taiwanese companies will lose their confidence in China and if they feel scared will shift production elsewhere, which will be a big loss to China, Mr. Lai added.

Foxconn has been pushing to diversify its manufacturing base outside China to places such as India, which one of the sources said may have contributed to Beijing placing pressure on the company.

Mr. Gou has not commented on the probe, with his campaign team referring questions to Foxconn and pointing out he is no longer involved in the company’s day-to-day running, though he remains a big shareholder.

Mr. Gou cancelled without explanation a campaign event originally scheduled for Monday evening, and has no events planned for Tuesday, according to his media team.

Foxconn said in a statement on Sunday that legal compliance was a “fundamental principle” of its operations, and it would “actively cooperate with the relevant units on the related work and operations”.

Foxconn’s shares extended their declines on Tuesday, down more than 2% during mid-morning trade compared to a flat broader market. Shares closed 2.9% lower on Monday.

Taiwan frequently accuses Beijing of seeking to exert pressure, whether military or economic, to sway the outcome of its elections to ensure an outcome favourable to China, whose government has not commented on the Foxconn probe.

Mr. Lai said China should respect Taiwan’s democratic system, way of life and choice of president, moving away from confrontation towards an era of respectful dialogue.

He reiterated it was his “mission” to maintain the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, in a reference to how he would not seek to push for Taiwan’s formal independence, a red line for China.

Taiwan is looking forward to joining hands with India and other like-minded partners to strengthen the global supply chain and safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and Indo-Pacific, Taipei’s de-facto Ambassador Baushuan Ger has said.

Without naming China, the envoy said Taiwan, confronted by “unceasing cross-Strait military intimidation and grey-zone threats”, has continued to strengthen its self-defence capabilities and has consistently strived to serve as a force for good.

Explained | China’s military diplomacy in Southeast Asia

China has been ramping up its military offensive against the self-ruled island of more than 23 million people, triggering global concerns.

“While we remain eternally grateful that the preservation of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is becoming a matter of consensus in the international community, we will continue to do our utmost to protect our hard-won democratic way of life without bowing to pressure,” Mr. Ger said.

He made the remarks at a reception on Friday night that was organised to celebrate the upcoming Taiwanese National Day, which is on October 10.

Mr. Ger said Taiwan will continue to play a crucial role in securing a resilient and robust global supply chain that protects critical technology from “exploitation”.

“As more countries look to preserve shared prosperity by diversifying their sourcing options, Taiwan, by way of its leading edge in the semiconductor sector, is willing and ready to continue to play a crucial role in securing a resilient and robust global supply chain that protects critical technology from exploitation,” he said.

“As such, we look forward to joining hands with our like-minded partners, including India, to strengthen the global supply chain, so as to safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific and to maintain the rules-based international order,” he added.

Taiwan produces over close to 60% of the world’s semiconductors and over 90% of the most advanced chips that are required for almost all electronic equipment such as smartphones, car components, data centres, fighter jets and AI technologies.

India has been very keen on having a manufacturing facility of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (TSMC), the world’s largest chipmaker whose clients included Apple.

China considers Taiwan as its breakaway province and insists it should be unified with the mainland, by force if necessary. Taiwan, however, sees itself as completely distinct from China.

“Over the years Taiwan and India have nurtured a natural and reliable partnership. Our two countries may be thousands of miles apart, but our shared commitment to democracy, freedom, respect of human rights and rule of law is instrumental in our joint efforts to deepen bilateral cooperation across the board,” Mr. Ger said.

“Although the Republic of China and the Republic of India maintained brief diplomatic relations from 1947 to 1949, it is not until 1995 when Taiwan and India re-established representations in Taipei and New Delhi,” he said.

“In addition to our Chennai office in 2012, I am pleased to announce that our third mission, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in Mumbai, will be open soon early next year,” Mr. Ger said.

The de-facto ambassador said through these three missions, Taiwan looks forward to working closely with its partners across India to bring the bilateral ties to historic heights.

“Given the convergence of Taiwan’s ‘New Southbound Policy’ and India’s ‘Act East Policy’, on the economic front, the bilateral trade volume reached a record high of 8.4 billion $in 2022. It’s a 10% increase than the year before,” he said.

India is Taiwan’s 17th largest trading partner and under the “Make in India” policy, the total investment of Taiwanese enterprises in India has exceeded $4 billion covering areas from footwear, machinery, automobile components to petrochemical and ICT products, he said. “With mutual agreements signed last year focusing on intellectual property rights, product standardisation and traditional medicine, we look forward to further expanding trade and investment with more mutually beneficial arrangements to be concluded in the coming years,” Mr. Ger said.

“In the area of education cooperation, we have so far set up 29 Taiwan Education Centres across Indian university campuses, where over 12,000 Indian students have taken up Mandarin courses taught by teachers from Taiwan,” he said.

At present, over 3000 Indian students are studying in Taiwan.

Though India and Taiwan do not have formal diplomatic ties, the bilateral trade relations have been on an upswing.

In 1995, New Delhi set up the India-Taipei Association (ITA) in Taipei to promote interactions between the two sides and to facilitate business, tourism and cultural exchanges.

India-Taipei Association has also been authorised to provide all consular and passport services.

In the same year, Taiwan too established the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in Delhi.