India's Stance on Taiwan
(INTERNATIONAL RELATION)
THE HINDU EDITORIAL ANALYSIS
(GS PAPER 2)
Stake in the Status Quo:
- India benefits from Taiwan's status as a self-governing territory without declaring independence.
- Trade between India and Taiwan has increased significantly, with discussions about a potential free trade agreement underway.
- Collaboration between Taiwanese and Indian firms, such as Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation and the Tata Group, reinforces economic ties.
- Recent agreements, like sending Indian workers to Taiwan, signify growing bilateral relations, with India's industry and supply chains increasingly reliant on a peaceful status quo across the Taiwan Strait.
Costs of Chinese Aggression:
- Any Chinese aggression against Taiwan would have catastrophic consequences for India.
- Disruptions in global trade with China and Taiwan would ripple across Asia and West Asia, impacting India's economy and critical sectors like electronics and pharmaceuticals.
- The potential for a broader conflict between China and the U.S., extending beyond Taiwan, poses risks to regional stability, including implications for the India-China border and global industrial capacity.
- The economic and geopolitical fallout from a conflict over Taiwan could severely undermine India's long-term international position, depending on the outcome.
Policy Options for India
- International Law Arguments: Leveraging international law to counter Chinese aggression and support the status quo in Taiwan.
- Building Narratives Opposed to Aggression: Constructing and promoting narratives that discourage aggressive actions by China against Taiwan.
- Coordinated Diplomatic Messaging: Collaborating with other nations to deliver unified diplomatic messages opposing Chinese coercion and advocating for peace in the Taiwan Strait.
- Economic De-risking: Implementing measures to mitigate economic risks associated with potential conflict, ensuring India's economy remains resilient.
- Active Information Operations: Engaging in information operations to support the Taiwanese people and counter Chinese propaganda efforts.
- Military Support to U.S. Forces: Providing military support to U.S. forces in the Indian Ocean, bolstering deterrence against Chinese aggression, and reinforcing India's strategic partnership with the U.S.
Benefits and Implications
- Advancing India's Strategic Position: Enacting these policies would enhance India's leverage in its strategic competition with China.
- Deepening Cooperation with the U.S.: Strengthening ties with the U.S. through shared interests in maintaining regional stability and deterring Chinese aggression.
- Leadership in International Affairs: Demonstrating leadership among countries, particularly in the Global South, in deterring Chinese aggression and promoting international peace and stability.
- Act of Indian Self-interest: Emphasizing that these policies serve India's self-interests, despite potential challenges or retaliation from China.
- Cost of Inaction: Highlighting that the costs of not pursuing these policies would far outweigh the risks associated with implementing them, given India's expanding interests and ambitions.