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Indo-Pacific Region: Perspectives of India and Taiwan

Report 

 

 

On 1st September 2023, Centre for Strategic Studies and Simulation (CS3), United Service Institution (USI) of India organised a webinar in collaboration with the Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR) on “Indo-Pacific Region: Perspectives of India and Taiwan”. The introductory remarks were delivered by Maj Gen BK Sharma, AVSM, SM** (Retd), Director General, USI and Dr Ming-Chi Chen, CEO, INDSR. The webinar was followed by a series of presentations and the session was moderated by Dr Tsung Han-Wu, Assistant Research Fellow INDSR and Dr Roshan Khanijo, Assistant Director of Research, CS3-USI.

The presentations included Indian Foreign Policy by Maj Gen BK Sharma, AVSM, SM** (Retd), Director General USI, Indian Defence Policy by Lt Gen Arun Kumar Sahni, PVSM, UYSM, SM, VSM (Retd), USI, India-US Relations by Maj Gen RPS Bhadauria, VSM (Retd), Director CS3, USI, Indo-China Relations by Mrs. Namrata Hasija, Research Fellow, CCAS, US-China Relations by Dr Domingo I-Kwei Yang, Assistant Research Fellow, INDSR and China Taiwan Relations and the Role of Semiconductors by Dr Christina Chen, Assistant Research Fellow, INDSR.

This was followed by a comprehensive Q&A round. The talk was attended by USI Council Members, eminent Taiwanese speakers and think tanks, serving and veteran officers and members of the academia, besides many other participants who joined through the digital platform.

 

Introductory Remarks by Maj Gen BK Sharma, AVSM, SM** (Retd), Director General USI and by Dr Ming-Chi Chen, CEO, INDSR.

 

Key Takeaways

·         The discussion on Indian Foreign Policy delved into India's multifaceted foreign policy, encompassing strategic strengths, relations with neighbouring countries, and maritime security. India should strive to be an eminent player in its strategic vicinity and a significant stakeholder in influencing geopolitical changes in both the Eurasian and Indo-Pacific regions. It also explored evolving geopolitics, like Chinese territorial claims, Russian interest in Asian maritime routes and eastern frontiers specifically the Chennai-Vladivostok maritime corridor, regional cooperation through QUAD, BRICS and SCO, increasing participation in other groupings like AUKUS, supply chain shifts, economic strategies, and resource control. The primary objective of India’s foreign policy is to adeptly navigate the intricate strategic landscape, aiming to secure a prominent position among the global comity of nations.

·         The session on Indian Defence Policy emphasized a collaborative framework for defence policy, tracing its evolution from Westminster-style origins to greater involvement of uniformed officers and civic institutions. For the formation of a successful defence strategy, a fair assessment of India’s geostrategic situation is essential. Insights into the national security management architecture and division of responsibilities were also shared.

·         Tracing the historical Indo-US strategic partnership from its inception through agreements like Logistic Exchange Memorandum Agreement (LEMAO) and Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), the session on India-US Relations discussed challenges to the relationship including India's stance on Russian aggression in Ukraine and US aid to Pakistan. Nevertheless, these issues are amicably managed through participation in QUAD, I2U2, US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET), and other initiatives, fostering a positive relationship.

Attendees at the Seminar

 

·         Further, the session on Indo-China relations highlighted a brief history of Indian border skirmishes with China, several examples of Chinese use of deceit and deception including attempts to ‘sensitise’ communities in the border regions of Taiwan and a detailed analysis of recent Chinese posturing including Xi Jingping’s absence from India’s G20 and the release of Chinese maps that include Indian territories of Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin within its borders. The future of India and China relations was analysed, unfortunately it does not seem likely to change for the positive in the foreseeable future.  

·         The session on US-China Relations discussed the global significance of China's debt diplomacy, infrastructure projects, and mineral access. This session also outlined the US Indo-Pacific strategy, emphasizing clean energy, supply chain resilience, alliance strengthening, maintenance of status quo in the Taiwan Strait, increasing intelligence exchange in US-Taiwan relations and cooperation with Japan and India.

·         The China-Taiwan relations sessions emphasised the importance of semiconductors as a key to maintaining stability in the Taiwan strait. China is heavily dependent on Taiwan for advanced semiconductor technology, especially as Taiwan holds over 50% of the global market share for chips, the silicon thread theory discussed the possibility of China invading Taiwan to acquire this technology. The discussions theories like the broken nest, operation paperclip, and silken shield. Despite the analysis, an invasion motivated solely by increasing access to semiconductor technology was deemed unlikely due to the CPP’s ambition to reunite with Taiwan as a matter of stability for the regime and to enhance Xi Jinping’s legacy, severe internal political conflict in China and heavy defence or infrastructural expenditure that the Chinese economy is not in a position to make. However, an invasion would disrupt the global supply chain for semiconductor technology, necessitating international cooperation and a unified response.

 

Webinar

Report by

Tavishi Sharma

Research Intern

CS3-USI