Why did China and Taiwan clash over PM Modi? Know the whole matter
When Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te congratulated PM Modi on the NDA's return to power for the third time, the Prime Minister also thanked him for the congratulations, but China strongly objected to the Indian Prime Minister thanking the Taiwanese President.
Presidents of Taiwan and China.
The NDA government has returned to power for the third time. After the victory in the Lok Sabha elections, global leaders from all over the world congratulated and wished Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but China and Taiwan have clashed over wishing PM Modi. China does not recognize Taiwan as an independent nation. It is considered it a part of the Republic of China. In such a situation, when Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te congratulated PM Modi, the Prime Minister also thanked him for congratulating him, but China strongly objected to the Indian Prime Minister thanking the Taiwanese President. Hu Xijin, a close aide of Chinese President Xi Jinping and former editor of Global Times, threatened India that it will have to pay the price for this.
Now Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te's reaction has come to the fore in this matter. Taiwan has rejected China's displeasure over the "cordial" exchange of messages between Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and called Beijing's reaction "completely inappropriate".
The Taiwanese Foreign Ministry's remarks came a day after China protested the exchange of messages between Modi and Ching-te, saying it opposes all official interactions between Taiwan and countries that have diplomatic ties with Beijing.
#Chinaโs outrage at a cordial exchange between the leaders of 2 democracies is utterly unjustified. Threats & intimidation never foster friendships. #Taiwan๐น๐ผ remains dedicated to building partnerships with #India๐ฎ๐ณ underpinned by mutual benefit & shared values. https://t.co/B5R1EtXEAO
โ ๅคไบค้จ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan) ๐น๐ผ (@MOFA_Taiwan) June 7, 2024
Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said this
Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said on X that China's anger at the cordial exchange between the leaders of the two democracies is completely unjustified. Threats and intimidation never build friendship. Taiwan is dedicated to building a partnership with India based on mutual benefit and shared values.
On Wednesday, Lai congratulated Modi on the National Democratic Alliance's victory in the Lok Sabha elections and said Taiwan is looking forward to enhancing the rapidly growing ties between the two sides.
He said on Twitter that my heartiest congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his election victory. He said that he looks forward to enhancing the rapidly growing Taiwan-India partnership and expanding their cooperation in technology, trade, and other areas.
China expressed objection to India
In response to the congratulatory message, Modi had also thanked Lai. At a media briefing in Beijing on Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning, when asked about the exchange of messages between Modi and Lai, said that China opposes all forms of official interaction between Taiwanese officials and countries that have diplomatic relations with China. Taiwan is part of China.
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
โ Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 5, 2024
Trade and economic ties between India and Taiwan have been growing steadily over the past few years, although the two sides do not have formal diplomatic relations. In February, India and Taiwan signed a migration and mobility agreement that will facilitate the employment of Indian workers in various sectors in the self-ruled island. It is a move that is being seen as a new impetus in cooperation between the two sides.