The standoff at the Ladakh border between the Indian Army and the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) continues amid failing talks and causes belli measurement being unleashed by the Chinese region.

hile the New Delhi government and the armed  forces make it clear that they will do whatever it takes to protect India’s sovereignty and integrity, precious little has been done on the foreign policy front, while India and it’s democratic allies, including the quad security group, have declared their intent to form the “Asian NATO” the quad continues to suffer from indecisiveness, which was evident when it didn’t even issue a joint statement to condemn China at the foreign minister’s meeting held last year.

Only the US called out China publicly.

• In such a situation, it is imperative that New Delhi explore alternate diplomatic and militaristic routes to tame the dragon.

The option of establishing formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan should be rigorously pursued by South Block.

Indo-Taiwan Historical Background:

• Indo-Taiwan ties date back to the early 1950s. when Chiang Kaishek, former head of state who fled to the island of Formasa (former name for the island of Taiwan) following the victory of Mao Zedong in the long-drawn Chinese civil war.
• However Nehru, believing that Chiang was nothing but a minor player, declared to ignore his call, choosing instead to concentrate on building ties with the Peoples Republic of China (PRC).
• Seven decades on, a plethora of changes has taken place on the foreign affairs front while both China and India have developed considerable military and economic strength, the former has surprised India to become an economic powerhouse.
• Since then Relations between China and Taiwan started improving in the 1980s. China put forward a formula, known as “one country, two systems”, under which Taiwan would be given significant autonomy if it accepted Chinese reunification.

Rational of strong Indo-Taiwan Ties:

• Recognising Taiwan will entail a lot of benefits for India’s foreign policy regime.

First, Taiwan is a robust democracy with a booming economy.

Second, India can bolster its legitimacy as the leader of the democratic world at a time when the democratic institutions in the US have been undermined.

Third, India can get the support of another powerful ally in its attempt of curve ???? a new supply chain alliance which Indo-Japan Australia formalized recently.

Fourth, recognizing Taiwan will make it clear to China that India means business and that if need arises, India will not back down from sending dedicated naval and air arrests in the disputed South China Sea region to enforce freedom of navigation principle.

Fifth, The quad Security grouping will be institutionalized, which in the near future can even be extended to include new members, it will be the first time that India will be a part of any dedicated military and economic alliance which will deter the aggression of the Chinese war machine in the strategic India Ocean and India-Pacific region.

As much as India would want to resolve its disputes with China, the appreciation and urgency to engage Taiwan is not to go down. India is mulling over the possibility to engage Taiwan on an even keep with China, without using it as a card against Beijing.

• As a possible retaliatory measure, China can activate its propaganda machinery to wage psychological warfare against India.
• It can also activate its terror financing networks which, for years, remained a chronic internal security issue for New Delhi in the North east.
• China will also collaborate with Pakistan by intensifying terrorism in the Kashmir valley and the northest of India.
• China can we its potent disinformation empire to try and peddle false news about the credibility of India’s indigenous vaccines.

Way Forward:

• Despite all the risks, the Modi government must work with all like-minded countries to counter chinese aggression. For the sake of the free world, India must take the hard step which will reinforce its position as a leader of the free world.