'Utterly Unjustified': Taiwan Defends Cordial Exchange With PM Modi Amid China's Protest

Amid China’s protest over the exchange of greetings between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, the Taiwan foreign ministry said that Beijing’s outrage at a cordial exchange between the leaders of two democracies is “utterly unjustified.”

Modi’s remarks on Wednesday came in response to a congratulatory message from Taiwan President Lai Ching-te on his election victory. Lai, elected as Taiwan’s President last month, in a message posted on X said: “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.”

In his reply posted on X, Modi said he looks forward to closer ties as we work towards mutually beneficial economic and technological partnership. “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,” Taiwan’s foreign ministry said in a post on X.

China views Taiwan as a rebel province that must be reunified with the mainland, even by force. On Thursday, China objected to the exchange between the Indian and Taiwanese leader, insisting that New Delhi should resist Taiwan authorities’ “political calculations”.

During a media briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China opposes “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”. On Thursday, the United States rebuffed Chinese concern over Beijing’s protest following the exchange of greetings between Modi and Lai Ching-te.

“I would say that such congratulatory messages are the normal course of diplomatic business,” State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters on Thursday at his daily news conference. He was responding to a question on China protesting over Modi’s comment that he looked forward to having closer ties with Taiwan after his victory in the just concluded Lok Sabha elections.