- Dr. Alan H. Yang, Executive Director, Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation

-Zoe Leung, Director of Track 2 Diplomacy, George H. W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations

 

Global democracy is in retreat. The United States is now a “backsliding democracy” for the first time according to the 2021 Global State of Democracy Report. At the same time, China uses the word “democracy” to describe its own governance, while meaning something completely different. As democratic practices regress, like-minded countries should combat this by expanding partnerships to protect and improve democratic institutions and civic spaces. In this context, Taiwan, a thriving democracy in the Indo-Pacific, represents both an exemplar as well as a potential partner. Taiwan provides valuable lessons in how to address challenges facing modern democracies while under constant threat.

 

In a recent Foreign Affairs essay, Taiwan‘s President Tsai Ing-wen makes the strong case that the island’s resiliency is critical to regional peace and the future of democracy. The United States and its allies agree: they are coordinating their Taiwan policy to safeguard the rule-based international order. 

 

Indeed, from securing a free and open Indo-Pacific to a potential digital trade deal in Asia to counter illiberal practices, the Biden administration is pushing an agenda of value-based alliances and partnerships to balance China’s rising influence. Those outsides of the region have taken note as well. Lithuania, for example, has deepened ties with Taiwan despite retaliation from Beijing, informed by its own long history of dealing with neighboring great powers. The boost of democratic partnerships is timely as advanced democracies grow vigilant in defending democratic values and the rule of law. 

 

- Dr. Sana Hashmi, Visiting Fellow, Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation

 

For years, India, which supports the one-China policy, has been careful about its relations with Taiwan, to avoid upsetting China which regards the island as a renegade province to be reunified, by force if necessary.

But in recent times, India, which has no official diplomatic ties with Taiwan, appears to have taken a friendlier approach towards the island.

 

India has also successfully pushed back against China's efforts to guide the Indian media in their coverage of India-Taiwan ties. The Chinese embassy in 2020 issued a note to Indian journalists asking them not to violate the "one-China policy" by reporting on Taiwan's Oct 10 National Day.

India responded by saying that the country has a free media, with a local BJP leader even putting up posters outside the Chinese embassy with the message: "Taiwan, Happy National Day".

"I believe India has attempted to remain neutral and its policy on Taiwan will only be driven by its own national interests," said Dr Sana Hashmi, a visiting fellow at the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation, a Taiwan-based policy think-tank.

"India is not compelled to issue a statement on Taiwan. Even though there seems to be a visible change towards Taiwan, India's Taiwan policy has remained consistent. The primary focus is on attracting investments, improving cooperation in the semiconductor industry," she explained.

"In the past two years, immense awareness has been generated among the Indian people about Taiwan. Common concerns are binding the people of Taiwan and India together."