A six-member delegation from the Prospect Foundation, Taiwan visited USI on 06 June 2019. The delegation was led by Tan-Sun Chen, Chairman, Prospect Foundation. The welcome remarks were given by Lt Gen PK Singh, PVSM, AVSM (Retd), Director, USI.
The two sides discussed India-Taiwan’s perspectives on bilateral relations, common challenges to Taiwan and India, China factor, challenges in Indo-Pacific, disputes over South and East China Sea, and the role of the US and Japan. The Taiwanese delegation remarked that the Taiwan, India and Japan share territorial dispute with China, and there is huge challenge in front of them on how to negotiate with China. The Director USI mentioned that India is the only country that stood up against China. He suggested further cooperation between India-Japan-Taiwan in trade and economics and at track 2.0 level. Maj Gen BK Sharma, AVSM, SM** (Retd), Deputy Director (Research) and Head Centre for Strategic Studies and Simulation (CS3) highlighted the importance of correct assessment of China’s internal capability, its core interests, and limit to US security role and politico-diplomatic channels in the region. He also suggested greater role for regional countries.
The Taiwanese delegation explained the limitation of its outreach due to shrinking international space for Taiwan. The delegation further suggested that powers like the US and India should discourage use of military in the Indo-Pacific as it could be counterproductive. Maj Gen Rajiv Narayanan, AVSM, VSM (Retd), Distinguished Fellow, USI suggested the use of force in dealing firmly with the Chinese. He further said that the US and India are taking principled stand on BRI. The two sides agreed that impetus has to be given to Indo-Taiwan relations at bilateral level and including Japan at the trilateral level will help to counter assertive China.
The concluding remarks were made by Dr Mark Tan-Sun Chen and Lt Gen PK Singh, PVSM, AVSM (Retd), Director, USI. The two sides also exchanged mementos.