China objects after Taiwan congratulates Modi who says thank you

Replying to the message, Modi said: “Thank you @ChingteLai for your warm message. I look forward to closer ties as we work towards mutually beneficial economic and technological partnership.”

At a media briefing Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, responding to a question on the interaction between Modi and Lai, said, “First of all, there is no such thing as ‘president’ of the Taiwan region.”

“As for your question, China opposes all forms of official interactions between the Taiwan authorities and countries having diplomatic relations with China. There is but one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People’s Republic of China,” she said.

“The one-China principle is a universally recognised norm in international relations and a prevailing consensus in the international community,” Mao said, adding, “India has made serious political commitments on this and is supposed to recognise, be alarmed about and resist the Taiwan authorities’ political calculations. China has protested to India about this.”

Mao said India “has diplomatic relations with China. China opposes all forms of official interactions between the Taiwan authorities and countries having diplomatic relations with China. This position is very clear and India knows this well.”

India and Taiwan do not have formal diplomatic ties but Delhi adheres to the One-China policy. Both sides have maintained the focus of ties on commerce, culture and education. The profile of the ties, now in their third decade, has been deliberately kept low, given the sensitivities of China.