Taiwan Digital Diplomacy Digest (TDDD) Vol. 30 — 3rd of October

Welcome to the 30th edition of Taiwan Digital Diplomacy Digest (TDDD) compiled by Taiwan Digital Diplomacy Association.

In this edition, you’ll hear about India-Taiwan relations, as well as the Taiwan Ambassador to Haiti, Russia’s enemies list, US poll regarding Harris and Trump’s response in a potential Taiwan Strait crisis, and Taiwan humanitarian aid to Syria. Read up on recent diplomatic visits to Taiwan and some interesting in-depth publications about Taiwan’s international affairs.?

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Growing, yet cryptic relations between Taiwan and India

The relationship between Taiwan and India, once characterized by distance and caution, has evolved into a dynamic and multifaceted partnership. Despite historical challenges and geopolitical complexities, the two countries have grown to develop a relationship based on shared interest. While India has engaged in unofficial diplomatic relations with Taiwan and expanded economic cooperation, India’s official stance on Taiwan remains ambiguous.?

Despite Taiwan and India having a rocky relationship in the recent decades, it is worth noting that the two countries share a historical connection dating back to 70 years ago. Before India gained independence in 1947 and the KMT government retreated to Taiwan in 1949, the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, and the first President under the 1947 Constitution, Chiang Kai-shek, developed a personal bond of friendship. During a visit to India, the leader of the Republic of China met with both Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi, expressing his support for India's independence. However, India’s leader didn’t respond in kind, and turned his back on Chiang Kai-shek when the ROC retreated to Taiwan after the Chinese Civil War. Fearing retaliation by his neighbor, India switched to recognised the PRC in 1949.?

The relations between Taiwan and India worsened after the PCR’s membership in the UN in 1971, becoming completely stagnated until the end of the century. It was not until the 1990s that relations between the two Asian countries began to materialize with the 1990 “Look East Policy”, designed to engage diplomatically with countries in the Asia Pacific. Although Taiwan wasn’t included in the list, relations improved with the establishment in 1995 of the India Taiwan Association in Taipei, and its counterpart Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in New Delhi. Since then, ties between Taiwan and India have deepened over the years. Taipei has received several official visits such as Former Indian defense minister George Fernandes or Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Another notable milestone was the establishment of the India-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Forum in 2016 by twenty-two Indian parliamentarians as a “formal platform for ‘friendship’”.?

The year 2016 marked a turning point in Taiwan-India relations. Since the beginning of Tsai Ing-wen administration, Taiwan’s foreign policy has taken a shift towards the South. This strategy was materialized in the New Southbound Policy (NSP), which was designed to strengthen relations with ten countries in Southeast Asia, India included. The NSP had two objectives: mitigate Taiwan’s economic risks and enhance its ties with its neighbors. In this regard, India plays a key role in Taiwan’s foreign policy strategy.?

Unlike other East Asian countries, Taiwan and India have a perfectly complementary partnership. In contrast to the competitive dynamics between the industries in India and Japan or South Korea, India and Taiwan’s partnership is characterized by mutual benefits. In the realm of semiconductors, the Indian Union Cabinet approved India’s first Artificial Intelligence-enabled chip fabrication facility in Gujarat, to be set up jointly by Tata Electronics and Taiwan’s Powerhouse Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC). ?This partnership enabled the production of semiconductors in India, contributing to the Made in India initiative, devised to transform India into a global design and manufacturing hub. Another key area of collaboration is cybersecurity. As frequent targets of Chinese cyberattacks, Taiwan, India, and the United States have joined forces to strengthen their cybersecurity defenses. A significant milestone was the inaugural meeting of the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF) in New Delhi in December 2023, where the three countries discussed strategies for enhancing cybersecurity cooperation and protecting their critical digital infrastructure.?

Over the past several years, India has prioritized its relationship with its neighbor, and avoided any action that could hamper the perceived status quo between both countries. However, in recent years, India has carefully shifted its approach to Taiwan, as it has distanced itself from the One China policy. In 2010, China denied visas to people from Jammu & Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh, claiming these areas were disputed territories. Since this event, India has not mentioned the "One China" policy from its official documents or press releases, in response to the PRC’s denial of the One India policy. This has led to a more proximate relation to the United States, and a more favorable position to develop India’s relationship with Taiwan.

While India's stance on Taiwan in the long run remains uncertain, the growing bilateral engagement and deepening ties suggest a promising future for the relationship. The establishment of formal channels of communication, the expansion of economic cooperation, and the strengthening of people-to-people exchanges have laid a solid foundation for future collaboration.

Other Stories

• Former Taiwan Ambassador to Haiti Hu Cheng-hao retakes his post after 5 years. Hu, who had served in Haiti between 2017 to 2019, arrived in Port-au-Prince where he presented his credentials to acting Foreign Minister Carlos Hercule. During his first days, the Ambassador Hu also met with Prime Minister Garry Conille and new Foreign Minister Dominique Dupuy.?
• Russia has published a list featuring countries with “values inimical to Russia” in which Taiwan was included, together with other countries in SEA such as Japan, South Korea and Singapore. The document states that: “residents to these countries could apply for humanitarian assistance if they accepted Russia’s traditional values.?
• A recent US poll by the Institute of Global Affairs asked the US population about how Trump or Harris would handle a Taiwan Strait crisis. In swing states, 58% against 42% believe that Trump will respond more efficiently than Harris. Similar results were found when asked nationwide. Concerning the support to defend Taiwan, both Republicans and Democrats show almost the same percentage of support for Taiwan. However, for those planning to vote for Harris, 18% more think the US will send troops to Taiwan, in comparison to Trump’s voters.?

Taiwan has contributed NT$127.4 million (US$4 million) to humanitarian aid in northeast Syria, focusing on revitalizing civil society, improving public health, and enhancing quality of life. This aid is part of Taiwan's commitment to the Global Coalition against Daesh, an international organization aimed at defeating the Islamic State group and stabilizing the Middle East.

Diplomatic Tracker

A detailed list of visits to Taiwan by politicians, parliamentarians, and other state representatives from allied and partner countries during the period from September 20th? to October 3rd:

1. 20th of September - France ???? - Senator Christophe Frassa and his delegation from the France-Vanuatu Pacific Island Friendship Group?

What we’re reading

• Where capitalism is working. What the world can learn about Switzerland, Taiwan and Vietnam (Foreign Affairs)

The article "Where Capitalism Is Working: What the World Can Learn From Switzerland, Taiwan, and Vietnam" delves into the factors that have contributed to the remarkable economic growth and stability of these three countries. Switzerland, renowned for its neutrality and high standard of living, has successfully leveraged its strong financial sector, world-class education system, and efficient infrastructure to foster a thriving economy. Taiwan, a vibrant democracy and technological powerhouse, has experienced rapid economic development through a combination of government support for innovation, a skilled workforce, and strategic trade policies. Vietnam, emerging from a war-torn past, has implemented market-oriented reforms that have propelled its economy onto the global stage, attracting foreign investment and improving living standards for its population.?

• Hard, fast, and where it hurts: Lessons from Ukraine-related sanctions for a Taiwan conflict scenario (European Council of Foreign Affairs)

In this policy brief, the author argues that the European Union (EU) should be prepared to impose severe sanctions on China in the event of a Taiwan conflict. The article analyzes the effectiveness of Western sanctions against Russia in the context of the Ukraine war and draws parallels to a potential Taiwan conflict. It highlights the importance of coordination among the EU, the United States, and other key allies in order to maximize the impact of sanctions. Additionally, the brief emphasizes the need for the EU to develop a clear strategy for dealing with potential Chinese retaliation, including economic countermeasures.?

• Taiwan’s Political Divide on UN Resolution 2758 (The Diplomat)

This year, Taiwan's government has launched a campaign to counter the PRC's claim in UN Resolution 2758 that Taiwan is part of its territory and should be excluded from UN bodies. The campaign has gained momentum, with several legislative bodies, including the Australian Senate, US House of Representatives, and Dutch House of Representatives, rejecting China's misinterpretation of the resolution. However, despite growing international support, there remains a lack of consensus within Taiwan's Legislative Yuan regarding a unified approach. The DPP, KMT, and TPP have submitted differing proposals on how to address the issue. For Taiwan's campaign to be successful and to secure its participation in the UN, these three major parties need to reach a consensus on a shared strategy.

• Taiwan’s search for a grand strategy (Brookings Institute)

This article explores Taiwan's search for a grand strategy, examining the key factors shaping its strategic thinking and the potential options available. It analyzes Taiwan's domestic political landscape, its economic and military capabilities, and the regional and global context.