Taiwan gets diplomatic foothold in India

India adheres to the 'One China' policy so it does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, which China considers a province. Now a new high-profile appointee will head Taiwan's mission to India this month with the expectation of gradually enhancing ties between the two countries while respecting sensitivities around India's ties with China.

The diplomat will have his work cut out for him, given the recent skirmishes between Taiwan and India. The boxes are packed and labeled as Andrew Hsia prepares to travel to New Delhi to be Taiwan's top diplomat in the country after leading its mission in New York. While he may display plaques that read Ambassador, his title will be Representative since India and Taiwan have no formal diplomatic ties.

But Hsia hopes to work on that and possibly secure India's support for Taiwan's membership of United Nations agencies like the World Health Organisation. Taiwanese Representative to India, Andrew Hsia told CNBC-TV18, "We are very pragmatic people and this is our campaign for international representation."

Even without diplomatic ties, bilateral trade between Taiwan and India is booming, at over five billion dollars. Hsia will focus on growing this exchange, especially when it comes to technology. Hsia adds, "That will be a major focus. Increase this cooperation between major industries."

People-to-people contacts will be another important area. Taiwan plans to increase tourism to India even as 35,000 Indian engineers work there.

Anirudh Bhattacharyya