US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said “congratulatory messages between two foreign leaders were normal diplomatic business” after he was asked to comment on China’s protests over Taiwan President Lai Ching-te congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his election victory.
“I haven’t seen those specific reports, so I don’t want to comment on them in detail, but I would say that such congratulatory messages are the normal course of diplomatic business…,” Miller was quoted as saying by ANI.
#WATCH | On being asked China has protested to India after an exchange of greetings between Prime Minister Modi and President of Taiwan following which, there have been several state and non-state actors going on social media and saying that India would have a price to pay. What… pic.twitter.com/EaAujNT1da
— ANI (@ANI) June 7, 2024
On Wednesday, PM Modi responded to a congratulatory message from Taiwan President Lai who was elected as Taiwan’s President last month, in a message posted on X, “My sincere congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his election victory. 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 Indo-Pacific.”
My sincere congratulations to Prime Minister @narendramodi on his election victory. 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.
— 賴清德Lai Ching-te (@ChingteLai) June 5, 2024
To which PM Modi said, “Thank you Ching te-Lai for your warm message. I look forward to closer ties as we work towards mutually beneficial economic and technological partnership.” China views Taiwan as a rebel province that must be reunified with the mainland, even by force.
Thank you @ChingteLai for your warm message. I look forward to closer ties as we work towards mutually beneficial economic and technological partnership. https://t.co/VGw2bsmwfM
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 5, 2024
Following Taiwan’s message, on Thursday, China warned India to be alarmed about Taiwan’s “political calculations” while remaining firm on the ‘One-China’ principle. China insists that Taiwan is a part of it.
According to a Hindustan Times report, PM Modi over the past few weeks mentioned Taiwan at least twice in public remarks. Once, during the laying of the foundation stone in March for Tata Electronics’ semiconductor fabrication facility at Dholera in Gujarat. Following this, PM Modi posted a condolence message on X, after Taiwan was hit by an earthquake in April.
In 2023, two-way trade between India and Taiwan was worth $8.2 billion, making India the 16th largest trading partner for Taiwan, as per Hindustan Times.
During a press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China opposed “all forms of 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”, reported PTI.
