‘Modiji Won’t Be Intimidated’: Taiwan Minister Tells China Over Objection To Congratulatory Exchanges | Watch

Taiwan criticised China on Tuesday for expressing its objection to exchange of congratulatory messages following elections in India and the island-nation. The Taiwanese deputy foreign minister Tien Chung-kwang said in a statement that neither Prime Minister Narendra Modi nor the Taiwan President Lai Ching Te will be intimidated by Beijing’s criticism.

The Chinese foreign ministry objected to the exchange of messages between PM Modi and Taiwan President Lai Ching Te after the island-nation’s leader congratulated PM Modi on National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) victory in 2024 general elections in India.

“I think Modi ji and our President will not be intimidated,” Tien Chung-kwang said while speaking to news agency ANI.

“My sincere congratulations to Prime Minister @narendramodi on his election victory. We look forward to enhancing the fast-growing #Taiwan-#India partnership, expanding our collaboration on trade, technology & other sectors to contribute to peace & prosperity in the #IndoPacific,” the Taiwanese President had posted on X to congratulate PM Modi.

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

This irked the Chinese government, who in a press briefing of its foreign ministry, said that there is ‘no such thing as ‘president’ of the Taiwan region’.

“First of all, there is no such thing as ‘president’ of the Taiwan region,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said while responding to a question.

“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,” Ning added.

She said that China has protested to India about the matter. “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,” Ning said.

“This position is very clear and India knows this well,” she further added and pointed out that China opposes all forms of official interactions with Taiwan.