India’s recent diplomatic moves over Taiwan and Tibet have escalated tensions with China. A delegation of US lawmakers met the Prime Minister of Taiwan. Dalai Lama The visit to Dharamsala in India last Wednesday drew a sharp response from China. The visit is part of a wider tour aimed at discussing the future of Tibet, which comes amid tense relations between the two countries and China. India and China,
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Narendra Modi On June 20, he met a bipartisan group of US lawmakers who visited Dharamsala this week and met the Dalai Lama. The delegation, led by House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was also hosted by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday night on their return from Dharamsala. - The delegation’s visit to Dharamsala was criticised by China, with Beijing urging the Americans to fully recognise the “anti-China separatist nature of the Dalai group”, honour US commitments to China on Tibet-related issues and stop sending the wrong messages to the world. Their meetings with Indian leaders are likely to further raise concerns in China.
why it matters
- The meeting highlighted India’s efforts on Tibet and Taiwan, which are sensitive issues for China.
- India’s growing engagement with Taiwan and Tibet reflects a broader strategy of multi-alignment, where India pursues its national interests independently.
- The strategic partnership with Taiwan and symbolic support for Tibet are seen as ways for India to strengthen its position on the global stage without over-reliance on any one power.
- This approach also provides India an opportunity to strengthen its economic and technological capabilities while countering China’s regional influence.
- “India has once again signaled that it is willing to gradually increase pressure on issues such as Tibet and Taiwan,” Harsh Pant, professor of international relations at King’s College London, told the South China Morning Post.
- Michael Kugelman, director of the Wilson Center’s South Asia Institute, said India is “trying to signal that it can leverage its relationship with the United States.” “It may show China that there are ways it can push back,” he said.
- Kugelman said Modi’s hosting of the delegation was a “very clear signal” that New Delhi was “fully” prepared for the delegation’s meeting with the Dalai Lama, and was not just trying to “politely” facilitate it.
- “India now appears to be more risk-tolerant when it comes to advancing the Tibet issue,” Kugelman said.
big picture
- India-Taiwan Relations: India is strengthening its economic and technological partnership with Taiwan, particularly in the semiconductor industry.
- Taiwanese companies such as Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC) and Foxconn are expanding their operations in India, and making significant investments in Modi’s home state of Gujarat.
India-China tension , Relations between India and China have been strained since border clashes in 2020 that resulted in the death of 24 soldiers. Both countries have been increasing their military presence and infrastructure along the disputed border, raising tensions.- US Support for Tibet: The Tibet Act, a bipartisan resolution recently passed by the US House of Representatives, aims to pressure China to resume dialogue with Tibetan leaders. Supported by prominent figures such as Nancy Pelosi, the legislation underscores the US commitment to addressing human rights issues in Tibet.
zoom in
- Technological cooperation: Partnership with Taiwan in semiconductor manufacturing is crucial for India’s technological advancement. This cooperation is not only for economic benefits but also to reduce dependence on China for critical technologies.
- Border tensions: The ongoing military deployment along the India-China border highlights the delicate nature of their relationship. Any significant engagement by India with Taiwan or Tibet could be seen by China as a direct challenge to its sovereignty and influence in the region.
- US-India-China triangle: US support for Tibet and India’s growing ties with Taiwan can be seen as part of a larger strategy to counter the rise of China. This trilateral dynamic adds a layer of complexity to the geopolitical landscape, with each country maneuvering to protect its interests.
- India’s action, besides provoking China, also signals its strong stance to maintain its strategic autonomy and advance its national interests in the face of regional challenges.
What are they saying?
- US lawmakers said: “We will not (let China) influence the succession of the Dalai Lama.” Delegation leader Michael McCaul highlighted bipartisan support for Tibetan autonomy. Nancy Pelosi also emphasized the message of the Resolve Tibet Act, saying it signals to China that “things have changed now.”
- China reaction: Beijing has strongly condemned the US delegation’s visit, and urged Washington to recognize the “anti-China and separatist nature of the Dalai clique” and avoid any contact with it.
- Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning reiterated that “Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People’s Republic of China” and expressed opposition to India’s engagement with Taiwan.
- “If China is not paying attention to our red lines, why should we pay attention to China’s red lines?” Sana Hashmi, a fellow at a Taipei-based think tank, told Foreign Policy on India’s changing stance on Taiwan-China relations.
- Experts such as Tanvi Madan of the Brookings Institution believe India’s engagement with Taiwan is linked to its technological goals and search for like-minded partners. “Modi has generally had an attitude of ‘If I am doing something with a country, why am I hiding it?'” Madan told FP, noting that he is the first Indian prime minister to visit both Israel and Palestine.
what next
With President Joe Biden likely to sign the Resolve Tibet Act, geopolitical dynamics in Asia will become even more complicated.India’s continued engagement with Taiwan and Tibet will likely provoke further reactions from China.
(with inputs from agencies)
