India has a new rather ardent—read persistent—lover on Twitter: Taiwan.
On Thursday, Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen declared her love for India on Thursday in a way that was likely to win desi hearts—by tweeting about channa.
"#Taiwan is lucky to be home to many Indian restaurants, & Taiwanese people love them. I always go for chana masala and naan, while #chai always takes me back to my travels in #India, and memories of a vibrant, diverse & colourful country. What are your favourite Indian dishes?" she tweeted on Friday.
This is not the first time that India has been courted by Taiwan in the full glare of the Twitter world courtesy China. In the past month, this love affair has intensified. On Wednesday, she tweeted a picture of her with the Taj Mahal. If Princess Diana’s picture on the bench—which went viral before Twitter existed—symbolised the end of her marriage with Prince Charles and monogamy, Tsai Ing-wen’s picture with the monument of love offered the promise of the beginning of new thrilling partnership.
“#Namaste to our friends from #India! Thank you for following me here. Your warm regards remind me of fond memories from time spent in your incredible country, your architectural marvels, vibrant culture & kind people are truly unforgettable. I miss my time there dearly.”
It is not unrequited. While India may not have officially abandoned its One-China policy, there has been a shift. A few months ago, India appointed a senior diplomat to serve as the new envoy to Taiwan. Gourangalal Das had served in Beijing before, is fluent in Mandarin and was a joint secretary handling the America desk. The choice for the envoy as well as Taiwan’s choice of General Baushuan Ger—a highly regarded official—as their man in Delhi is an indication of the intent both countries have.
Earlier in May, the government sent two representatives, Meenakshi Lekhi and Rahul Kaswan, to attend the virtual swearing in of President Tsai Ing-wen. Lekhi recorded a special message which was played at the ceremony. This was before the violence at the border between India and China.
Last week, India too, did a rather daring act of love at par with the President’s declaration with Indian food. On October 10, the 109 Taiwan National Day, posters wishing Taiwan came up near the high security zone of the Chinese embassy in New Delhi. The posters, attributed to BJP leader Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga, were removed subsequently—but the damage was done.
The closeness with Taiwan, however, has been growing steadily. It is not a new phenomenon. Over the years, Taiwanese investment in India has soared. It was expected to hit $10 billion in the next few years (estimates made in the pre-COVID era). A mega park with a capacity for 100 Taiwan ITC companies is also on the cards by 2022.
China, has played of course—pitch perfect too—the role of the disapproving parent, sending out dire warnings of consequences over the India-Taiwan closeness.
Sun Weidong, China’s ambassador to India, issued a statement in summer: “We need to respect and accommodate mutual core interests and major concerns, adhere to the principle of non-interference in each other’s internal affairs.” Last week, an email was sent out by the Chinese embassy warning Indian journalists not to refer to Taiwan as a nation, while covering organised by the Taipei Economy and Cultural Centre (TECC) in India.
The ministry of external affairs issued a terse response. “There is a free media in India, that reports on issues that they see fit,” said spokesperson Anurag Srivastava in response to a question at the weekly virtual briefing. Taiwan’s foreign ministry then came gallantly to the rescue, via Twitter.
“India is the largest democracy on Earth with a vibrant press & freedom-loving people. But it looks like communist # China is hoping to march into the subcontinent by imposing censorship. #Taiwan’s Indian friends will have one reply: GET LOST!’’ read the tweet, signed by Foreign Minister Joseph Wu.
