Introduction to Indo Taiwan Relation

INTRODUCTION

Chiang Kai-shek, founder of Taiwan, had a warm relationship with Indian leaders, particularly Gandhiji and Pt. Nehru, during the pre-Indian Independence era.

After India's Independence in 1947, the two countries established embassies. However, after China's Communist takeover in 1949 and the establishment of the Republic of China (ROC) in Taiwan, India changed its policy and recognized the People's Republic of China (PRC) and its One China principle, causing a deep freeze on the IndianTaiwan relationship during the Cold War era.

The Taiwan-India relationship has seen significant progress since the Indian government's "Look East Policy" in 1991.

The two countries established representative offices in each other's capitals in 1995, including the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India (TECC) for Taiwan in New Delhi and the India-Taipei Association (ITA) for India in Taipei.

Since 2010, India has not officially mentioned support for the One-China policy in its joint communique, even during the China-Taiwan Crisis. However, India and Taiwan have institutionalized their relations to boost bilateral exchanges.

The relationship has been further enhanced by signing the "Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement" and "Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement" in July 2011, and the "ATA Carnet Protocol" in March 2013.

The TECC established a second office in Chennai in 2012, and the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) opened branch offices in Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, and Mumbai.

In 2014, Taiwanese Parliamentarians visited New Delhi, and in 2015, the Indian government included Taiwan nationals in the list of e-Tourism visa-on-arrival (eTV).

In December 2015, TECC Representative Ambassador Tien Chung-Kwang and ITA Director General Manish Chauhan jointly signed the "Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Small and Medium Sized Enterprises."

In 2016, the India-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Forum was established, involving regular visits by Parliamentarians to the other country.

In 2018, Taiwan created the Taiwan Tourism Information Center in Mumbai to enhance people-to-people interactions.

Still, India is among the 179 of the 193 member states of the UN that do not maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan. India Taiwan relations picked up the momentum due to the New Southbound Policy initiated in 2016 by Taiwanese President Tsai.

The Taiwan government promotes the "New Southbound Policy," assisting businesses in diversifying their presence overseas. India, benefiting from a demographic dividend and robust domestic market demand, is considered a crucial partner country under the New Southbound

Policy.

The Taiwan-India Economic Consultation aims to further deepen economic and trade relations between Taiwan and India, focusing on economic and trade development, investment, industrial cooperation, and talent exchange.