This book is a compilation of papers presented at a conference on the subject ‘Taiwan in the Twenty-first Century’ in New Delhi. At this conference held in Delhi, efforts were made to understand the significance of the ‘Taiwan factor’ within the larger security dynamics of the Asia-Pacific region.
Security in the region has become highly complex since the end of the Cold War. The region has been the epicentre of a China and United States-centric ‘hub-and-spokes’ system of alliances/partnerships. Most of the countries in the Asia-Pacific region are found to be ‘hedging’ by pursuing positive relations with both the United States and China where Taiwan is a major stumbling block in the region.
Taiwan is economically strong and a major trading partner with most countries. This is what the papers presented at the conference seemed to say. It has a major role to play in the larger security scenario of the Asia-Pacific region, though Taiwan is not accorded the importance it deserves in the comity of nations. The United States- Japan alliance is important for Taiwan. The equation between the United States-India-Russia-China is also very significant. The Taiwanese Minister of Defence, Chen Chaomin, at a speech before the Legislative Committee meeting, observed, “Taiwan’s defence build-up and battle readiness remain necessary,” presumably to be able to hold talks with China on “an equal footing”.
Vice-Admiral PJ Jacob (retired) stressed the importance of Taiwan’s economic growth and its implications for the Asia-Pacific region. He identified the areas where India and Taiwan can strengthen their economic relations.
MD Nalapat discussed how the Sinic and Indic cultures represented two unbroken streams of civilisation centred in China and India respectively. He said that the Sinic people are believed to be on the course to emerge as the ‘lead civilisation’ on the globe and will displace the Euric people after a gap of two centuries. However, China will need to continue on the present trajectory of high growth combined with internal stability, despite rapid changes in the social environment. The ‘Taiwan effect’ is expected to be substantial in such a success.
Jabin T Jacob talked of the evolution of the referendum as a political tool in Taiwan and the way both political formations on the island have used it and responded to its use. He said that democracy on the island appears to be evolving with ‘Taiwanese characeristics’.
LS Prabhakar showed that China’s economic and strategic access was built on “a string of pearls” that was strong maritime-military dimension of cultivating trade, building infrastructure and is engaged in political-diplomatic strategies of building regional and global influences. He said that China is attempting to completely absorb and subordinate Taiwanese capital and technology into the mainland and coerce Taiwan into a forceful reunification. He called for greater Indian and Taiwanese cooperation on the economic front.
Yeong-Kuang Ger analysed the present KIMT government’s security policy against the background of changing security environment in Asia-Pacific region since the Cold War.
MJ Vinod examined the Taiwanese perspective on China-Japan’s relations in the stratagem of Taiwan vis-à-vis Japan and China; the ‘Taiwan factor’ in further Japan-China relations and its implications for Japan-Taiwan and China-Taiwan relations. His main contention was that Taiwanese issues posed a formidable challenge to Japan’s stable relations with China as a result two factors—firstly, China’s international ascendancy and secondly, Taiwan’s democratisation.
C Mahapatra’s paper analysed the issue and events related to Taiwan on the basis of the post-Cold War trends in the United States-China relations and the ‘Taiwan factor’ in it. His paper examined the role and status of Taiwan in the foreign policy strategy of the United States and identified the main reasons for its policy of ‘status quo’ towards the Taiwan issue. He pointed out that the relationship at present held the key to future Asian stability than the one between the United States and China and that no other dispute had the potential for a clash between the American and the Chinese than the Taiwan issue.
SY Surendra Kumar identified the main reasons for President Bush’s policy of reversal from being pro-Taiwan during his first tenure. The main guiding factor was examined as it shaped the US policy toward Taiwan and its implications for the US-China relations.
I-Chung Lai analysed how the Asia-Pacific powers approached Taiwan’s external relations, what would be the major challenges for Taiwan and what would be President Mai’s policy and impact on the geo-strategic environment in East Asia.
The papers were significant but unfortunately not one of them did really answer the question whether China would object to warmer Taiwan-India relations. Nonetheless since Taiwan is emerging as a rich country, rising rapidly up the technological ladder, India should explore its market and strike a more meaningful relationship with the country, notwithstanding what China thinks.
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