'Utterly unjustified': Taipei reacts to Beijing's meltdown over PM Modi-Lai Ching-te exchange

Taipei on Friday reacted sharply to China’s protest over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reply to Taiwan President Lai Ching-te’s congratulatory message, saying that Beijing’s outrage at a cordial exchange between the leaders of two democracies is “utterly unjustified”.

Taking to X, Taiwan MOFA said, “China’s outrage at a cordial exchange between the leaders of 2 democracies is utterly unjustified. Threats & intimidation never foster friendships.”

“Taiwan remains dedicated to building partnerships with #India underpinned by mutual benefit & shared values,” it added.

Following his election victory, PM Modi received a congratulatory message from Lai on X on Wednesday, saying, “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."

Responding to the message, PM Modi wrote on X, “Thank you @ChingteLaifor your warm message. I look forward to closer ties as we work towards mutually beneficial economic and technological partnership.

The exchange of greeting, however, didn’t go down well with China, which protested to India on Thursday, saying that it opposes all interactions between Taiwanese authorities and countries having diplomatic ties with Beijing.

During a daily media briefing in Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning while addressing questions on recent message exchanges, said that China has lodged a protest with India concerning the matter.

Mao asserted that there is no recognised position of “President" for the Taiwan region, emphasising Beijing’s opposition to any official engagements between Taiwan authorities and nations with diplomatic ties to China.

She reiterated China’s stance that there exists only one China globally, with Taiwan being an integral part of the People’s Republic of China.

On Thursday, the Chinese Embassy in India reiterated that Taiwan is an “inalienable part” of China.

The embassy’s spokesperson further emphasised that the one-China is a universally recognised norm in international relations and a prevailing consensus in the international community.

“There is but one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People’s Republic of China. The one-China principle is a universally recognised norm in international relations and a prevailing consensus in the international community,” the spokesperson added.

Moreover, it also stressed that India is supposed to recognise and resist the Taiwan authorities’s political calculations on the one-China policy.

“India has diplomatic relations with China and knows China’s position well. On the one-China principle, India has made serious political commitments and is supposed to recognize, be alarmed about and resist the Taiwan authorities’ political calculations,” the spokesperson added.

The India-Taiwan economic partnership has grown significantly in recent years. Taiwan has considered India as a critical partner under its ‘New Southbound Policy’, and both countries have also signed a migration agreement to allow Indian workers to be employed in Taiwanese industries.

Lai Ching-te, in a stern warning to China, called on Beijing to stop intimidating the island nation, over which China continues to make its claim. China has also intensified military drills after Lai was sworn in as the president of the island nation, raising tensions in the region.

With inputs from agencies