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A SUCCESSFUL TAIWAN DELEGATION VISIT
(BY OUR CORRESPONDENT)

The relations between India and Taiwan have reached the take-off stage. This was evident from the warm reception that a high-level delegation from Taiwan recently got in India. The Taiwan delegation met and interacted with a wide cross-section of policy-makers, politicians, bureaucrats, intellectuals, business leaders, and opinion-makers in India. Without exception, everybody welcomed the idea of greater economic and political relations between the two countries.

The visit of the Taiwan delegation, hosted by the Centre for National Renaissance (CNR), began on October 30. The five-member delegation was headed by Ms Maysing Yang, vice-president of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD). Other members of the delegation included: Dr Chenen Ko, president, Chung-Hua Institute for Economic Research; Dr Wen-Chen Lin, Vice-President, TFD; Dr I-Chung Lai, director of foreign policy studies, Taiwan Thinktank; and Dr Y.C. Jou, director, TFD.

The next day was a seminar on democracy, organized by the TFD at the India International Centre in New Delhi. The speakers included Taiwanese delegates - Ms Maysing Yang, Dr Chenen Ko, Dr Wen-Chen Lin, Dr I-Chung Lai, and Dr Y.C. Jou. The speakers from India included: Mr Balbir Punj, senior BJP leader; Dr Bhaskara Rao, Director,Centre for Media Studies; Mr P.P. Rao, Constitutional Expert; Vice-Admiral P.J. Jacob (Retd) PVSM,AVSM,VSM; Ambassador K.V. Rajan (Retd); Dr Subhash C. Kashyap; Ambassador G. Parthasarathy (Retd); Dr Savita Pande (JNU).

Other speakers included: Air Marshal Vinod Patney (Retd); Mr D.R. Kaarthikeyan; Air Commodore Jasjit Singh (Retd); Maj-Gen Afsir Karim (Retd); Mr Joginder Singh; Dr I-Chung Lai, Director,Taiwan Thinktank; Brigadier Arun Sehgal; Lt-Gen V Saighal (Retd); and Chairman’s address: Ambassador Ranjit Gupta (Retd). The Valedictory Session was by Dr Subramanian Swamy, Chairman, CNR.

At the seminar, a consensus was discernible on the issue of improving economic and political relations between India and Taiwan.

On the same day, dinner was hosted by Mr Kishori Lal, a senior Congress leader. A number of public figures from the Muslim community were invited, including the chief of the Ajmer shrine and Javed Chaudhary, a former Secretary (Revenue) to the Government of India.

On November 1, the Taiwan delegation met with Dr Jairam Ramesh, a senior Congress leader and expert in economic affairs. This was followed with an interaction with Mr Jagdish Shettigar, a senior BJP leader and expert in economic affairs. He emphasized that change in government does not mean change in economic policy. He pointed out that the present Indian government would have been more pro-market in orientation but for their compulsion to rely on political support from the communists.

Early in the evening, despite being the Diwali day, the delegation met with Dr Arun Shourie, who is a senior BJP leader and former federal Minister for Privatization. He expressed concern over the hawkish posturing and malicious designs of China. He welcomed economic and political cooperation not only between India and Taiwan but also among other democracies in Asia.

On November 2, the Taiwan delegation met with Mr L.K. Advani, BJP president and former Deputy Prime Minister. He liked the idea of political and economic cooperation with Taiwan. Accepted an invitation to Taiwan. Promised to facilitate Taiwan’s interaction with BJP-ruled states.

Lunch with Dr Najma Heptullah, a senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chairman of the Upper House of India Parliament. She was very warm in receiving the delegation and immediately established rapport with Ms Yang. At the lunch, she had also invited senior BJP leader Balbir Punj and some prominent industrialists.

In the evening, there was a meeting with Dr Kiran Karnik, president of the National Association of Software & Services Companies (Nasscom). He described great opportunities awaiting Taiwanese investment and India-Taiwan business ties. In fact, he gave another meaning to the abbreviation “IT”: he said IT stands for India-Taiwan. He was very upbeat about the future of economic relations between the two countries.

Dinner was hosted by Dr Swamy at Intercontinental Hotel. He discussed not only as a leading statesman but also as a scholar-economist of repute. He explained India’s position vis-à-vis China, his interaction with the Chinese, and the precariousness of the Chinese economy. He also talked about the ethos, culture, philosophy, religion, and values of India. He gracefully accepted the invitation to Taiwan.

On November 3 morning was an informal interaction at the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. Apart from the Foundation’s chief Bibek Debroy, many people participation in it. This included Mr Ravi Shanker Kapoor from CNR, Mr Barun Mitra from the Liberty Institute, Mr Himraj Dang, and others. A number of issues, like India-Taiwan economic relationship and threats to liberty in democracies, were discussed at the interaction.

In the afternoon, there was a meeting with Ficci, an apex business chamber in India. There were two presentations¾one on Ficci and the other on the Indian economy. Ficci supported greater economic cooperation between the two countries.

In the evening, the Taiwan delegation met former Prime Minister I.K. Gujral. He welcomed better ties with Taiwan. He insisted that India does not have to seek China’s permission to improve its relations with Taiwan.

Dinner was hosted by Member of Parliament Shahid Siddiqui. Also invited were a couple of MPs and Mr Rakesh Bahadur, chief administrative officer of Noida and Greater Noida. The Taiwan delegation was informed about business potential in UP in general and Noida-Greater Noida in particular. UP is the largest state in India.

On November 4 were interactions with Mr Ranjit Gupta and the ICA chief.

There was a sight-seeing trip to Gurgaon, the industrial township adjoining Delhi. The delegation seemed impressed by one of the most happening towns in India. Dinner was hosted by Dr M.M. Joshi, senior BJP leader and former federal Minister who held portfolios of Education, Science, and Culture. He also expressed concern about China’s aggressive policies in Asia and preferred more cooperation between Asian democracies.

On November 5, in the morning a presentation was made at the Centre for Media Studies by Centre chief Dr Rao. He gave broad outlines of Indian democracy and its functioning.

Lunch was organized at the RSS headquarters. RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav gave a presentation about RSS. He said his organization was worried about the growing threat from China, communist insurgency in India, and increasing American presence in Asia.

A trip to Noida and Greater Noida was arranged by Mr Bahadur. A presentation was made and the delegation was taken around and shown the two townships. The Taiwan delegation was impressed by the upcoming townships in UP.

Late in the evening, the delegation took flight to Taipei.

By any reckoning, this seemed a successful visit, opening the way for greater cooperation between India and Taiwan in a number of areas.