India has dismissed Beijing’s claim that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar described Taiwan as “part of China,” stressing there has been no change in New Delhi’s long-standing position.
On Tuesday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a clarification after the Chinese Foreign Ministry released a readout about the Jaishankar–Wang Yi meeting in New Delhi on Monday evening.
In its statement, Beijing asserted that Jaishankar reaffirmed the “One-China” principle by calling Taiwan a part of China. The MEA denied this, saying Jaishankar made no such reference.
“There is no change in our position on Taiwan. Like the rest of the world, India has a relationship with Taiwan that focuses on economic, technological, and cultural ties. We intend to continue it,” the ministry stated.
Taiwan, a self-ruled island with a population of over 23 million, produces nearly 70% of the world’s semiconductors.
Historically, the Republic of China regained control of Taiwan from Japan in 1945 but retreated in 1949 after the Chinese Civil War. Both the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of China (ROC) still constitutionally claim each other’s territories.
In the Chinese readout, it was conveyed that National Security Adviser Ajit Doval stressed the importance of enhancing understanding, deepening trust, and strengthening cooperation, considering these essential for the welfare of both nations and global peace and development.
It was also stated by Beijing that consistent adherence to the One-China policy has been maintained by India, though this assertion was not explicitly confirmed in New Delhi’s official statement.
