Taiwan and Location
Taiwan is a tiny island off the east coast China.
Separated from mainland China by the Taiwan Strait.
It is the largest land mass between Japan and the Philippines at the junction of the East and South China Sea in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.
The East China Sea lies to its north.
The Philippine Sea to its east.
The Luzon Strait directly to its south and the South China Sea to its southwest.
It’s a part of ‘First Island Chain’.
‘First Island Chain’ - A string of Island nations/territories including Japan, South Korea, Philippines,Kuril island.
India- Taiwan relations
As a part of India's Act East Foreign Policy, India has sought to cultivate extensive ties with Taiwan.
In trade and investment as well as developing co-operation in science & technology, environment issues and people-to-people exchange.
India-Taipei Association (ITA) and Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre (TECC) in New Delhi.
TECC in Chennai in 2012
Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre (TECC) — the term used to describe Taiwan’s de facto diplomatic missions because India and Taiwan do not maintain formal diplomatic relations
India and Taiwan do not have formal diplomatic relations but since 1995, both sides have maintained representative offices in each other’s capitals that function as de facto embassies.
Since 1949, India has accepted the One China policy that accepts Taiwan and Tibet as part of China.
However, India uses the policy to make a diplomatic point, i.e., if India believes in “One China” policy, China should also believe in a “One India” policy.
Even though India has stopped mentioning its adherence to One China policy in joint statements and official documents since 2010, its engagement with Taiwan is still restricted due to the framework of ties with China.
Recently in news
In a significant step aimed at boosting economic linkages, Taiwan announced it would open its third representative office in India in Mumbai, more than a decade after it last expanded its presence in India.
The TECC in Mumbai will help expand mutually beneficial trade and investment opportunities between Taiwan and India.
It will provide visa services, document authentication, and emergency assistance to businesspeople, tourists, and Taiwanese nationals in western India.
COMMENTS