Chinese president's tough stand on Taiwan sends strong message to other nations with territorial disputes

NEW DELHI: Chinese President Xi Jinping’s tough stance on Taiwan following his re-election is a strong message to all nations that have territorial dispute with it, according to former Taiwanese foreign minister Tan Sun Chen.

“President Xi, through action against Taiwan, is sending out a tough message to all countries, including India and Japan, which have territorial disputes with China,” Tan told ET. “He is trying to change current status quo and create a new status quo.”

Tan is in Delhi to attend the ‘Raisina Dialogue’, an annual multilateral global affairs conference.

“Unlike India, USA and Taiwan, China is a one-party state and its current political structure is dominated by one man – Xi Jinping -- and his ambitions,” Tan said, referring to Beijing’s recent unilateral decision to launch flights over Taiwan Straits without consultation with Taipei. “The unilateral launch of these routes also runs entirely counter to international civil aviation regulations, disregards aviation safety and disrespects Taiwan.”

Pointing out that China has altered the geography in the South China Sea region, the senior Taiwanese leader said the US got bogged down with the North Korea issue and China took advantage of the situation to establish its supremacy in the South China Sea region.

Tan, however, said that amid these geo-political developments, India and Taiwan can join hands to stabilise the Indo-Pacific region. “India's ‘Act East’ policy and Taiwan's South-bound policy can complement each other to contribute to stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Both are democracies, and with India’s growing economic rate, it will be a major global power. India has brains and Taiwan has understanding of China. Both can complement each other from security spheres to economic spheres,” he suggested.