Taiwan crisis: India calls for restraint, de-escalation of tensions

In its first reaction on the crisis in Taiwan, India also underlined the need to maintain peace and stability in the region.

Addressing the media, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “Like many other countries, India too is concerned at recent developments. We urge the exercise of restraint, avoidance of unilateral actions to change status quo, de-escalation of tensions and efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region.”

Responding to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan recently, China launched extensive military drills around Taiwan.

Pelosi, had landed in Taiwan on August 2, ignoring Chinese threats and a warning by President Xi Jinping, delivered to President Joe Biden, to “not play with fire” (by provoking China).

Beijing considers Taiwan a part of China, threatens it frequently, and has not ruled out taking the island by military force at any time.

For China, the presence of a senior American figure in Taiwan would indicate some kind of US support for Taiwan’s independence. China views Pelosi’s visit as a serious violation of the “One China” principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiqués. This, according to the Beijing, gravely undermines peace and stability in the region, and sends a wrong signal to the “separatist forces for Taiwan independence”.