BEIJING, Aug 21: China on Thursday expressed “surprise” over India’s clarification regarding External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s reported comments on the One-China policy during his recent talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in New Delhi.
The controversy stems from a Chinese foreign ministry statement that allegedly misquoted Jaishankar as affirming that Taiwan is part of China.
In response, India clarified that its stance on Taiwan remains unchanged, emphasizing that New Delhi’s engagement with Taiwan is focused on economic, technological, and cultural ties.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted that India has not altered its policy, pointing out that even China engages with Taiwan in similar non-political areas.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, reacting at a media briefing, said, “We are surprised at India’s clarification,” and labeled India’s position “inconsistent with the facts.”
She further alleged that “some people in India” were trying to undermine China’s sovereignty over Taiwan and obstruct the improvement of China-India ties. Mao reiterated China’s firm opposition and stated, “There is but one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory.”
Mao urged India to sincerely adhere to the One-China principle and handle sensitive issues with care to support stable bilateral relations.
The MEA’s statement, however, highlighted that India’s policy on Taiwan has remained consistent, and it stressed that India’s relationship with Taiwan is limited to non-diplomatic spheres. Notably, while India had endorsed the One-China policy in the past, the term has not been used in any official bilateral documents since 2011.
Despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties between India and Taiwan, bilateral trade and cooperation have increased in recent years. Taiwan, a self-governed island with over 23 million people, is a major global player in the semiconductor industry, producing around 70% of the world’s chips—critical for smartphones, vehicles, data centers, defense equipment, and AI technologies.
The incident reflects the growing sensitivity around Taiwan’s status and the geopolitical tensions that continue to impact China-India relations. (PTI)
