BJP MPs attend Taiwan President's swearing-in ceremony as India sends China loud message

As Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen was sworn in for her second term on Wednesday, BJP MPs Meenakshi Lekhi and Rahul Kaswan virtually attended ceremony and congratulated her on behalf of Modi government, even as China claims it as its territory. This also comes amid ongoing global inquest into origins of Covid crisis, with WHO agreeing to and China permitting an investigation. Taiwan's presence at World Health Assembly was also a matter of question and widely mooted, though it did not eventually come about.

BJP MPs were among 92 dignitaries from 41 countries who h a virtual presence at ceremony as foreign visitors are banned in Taiwan in wake of COVID-19 pandemic.  

Back in 2016, when Tsai was elected to her first term, Indian government h decided against sending its MPs to Taiwan for inaugural ceremony. This time around, BJP MPs were also joined by Sohang Sen, acting director-general of India-Taipei Association, who represented India at ceremony in Taipei. India does not have an official diplomatic establishment in Taiwan, same as 179 of 194 United Nations members.  

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While y did not point out Indian MPs, Chinese authorities slammed congratulatory messages that foreign dignitaries sent to Tsai.

 “We hope and believe that … [y will] understand and support just cause of Chinese people to oppose secessionist activities for ‘Taiwan independence’ and realise na tional reunification,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters in Beijing. 

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‘India and Taiwan shared democratic values’

In ir congratulatory message to Taiwanese President, Lekhi and Kaswan highlighted on India and Taiwan’s shared belief in democratic values.  

“Both India and Taiwan are democratic countries, bonded by shared values of freedom, democracy and respect for human rights. Over past years, India and Taiwan have enhanced bilateral relations enormously in wide-ranging areas, especially tre, investment and people to people exchanges,” said two MPs during ir video message.  

In dition to this joint message, Lekhi also sent a separate message to Tsai, which was also played at ceremony. She congratulated Tsai and wished her “great success” and also talked about “continued strengning of comprehensive relations between India and Taiwan”.  

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