The India-Taiwan relationship has undergone a significant shift, with the two sides expanding cooperation across several areas of shared interest.
The roots of this engagement can be traced to the 1990s, when India and Taiwan established informal ties through the India-Taipei Association in Taipei and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in New Delhi. However, the relationship largely remained low-profile due to India’s concern that openly embracing Taiwan would provoke China.
This approach began to change after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in 2014, as India showed greater political willingness to strengthen ties with Taiwan. One early signal was the invitation extended to Taiwan’s representative to attend Modi’s swearing-in ceremony in 2014.
Two members of the Indian Parliament from the Bharatiya Janata Party — Meenakshi Lekhi and Rahul Kaswan — also attended President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) second inauguration in 2020 via online participation.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs later criticized China for unilaterally changing the “status quo” in the Taiwan Strait following then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei in August 2022.
India’s decision to award Young Liu (劉揚偉), chair and CEO of Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn), the Padma Bhushan further underscored its intent to deepen ties. India has also allowed Taiwan to open a Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in Mumbai.
Former chiefs of India’s three military services — including Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria, Admiral Karambir Singh, and General M.M. Naravane — visited Taipei in 2023 to attend the Ketagalan Forum on Indo-Pacific Security Dialogue.
This growing engagement is driven by several factors. Economic interests are central to the relationship. Bilateral trade has reached US$10.6 billion (NT$339.4 billion), and around 200 Taiwanese companies operate across sectors in India.
India is seeking to benefit from Taiwan’s capital and expertise in areas such as manufacturing, construction, and electronics. Taiwan, which accounts for 63.8% of global semiconductor production, plays a key role in India’s ambition to become a global hub for electronics manufacturing and design.
In this context, a deal between Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation and Tata Electronics to invest US$11 billion in a semiconductor plant in Gujarat marks a significant development. The project is expected to help India reduce its dependence on China.
For Taiwan, India represents a large and growing market, as well as a gateway to broader South Asian expansion. The migration and mobility agreement between the two sides also supports trade, people-to-people exchanges, and efforts to address labor shortages in Taiwan.
Social media has also become a channel for strengthening ties. Modi expressed condolences and support to Taiwan on X following the April 2024 earthquake, while then-Vice President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) used the platform to congratulate Modi on his reelection.
India-Taiwan relations have also gained greater visibility in Indian media, contributing to increased public awareness. Cooperation has expanded in areas such as education and tourism.
That said, the two sides remain far from realizing their full potential. India should take steps to further institutionalize its ties with Taiwan.
First, India should encourage parliamentarians and state-level representatives to visit Taiwan, which could help deepen mutual understanding and attract more Taiwanese investment. India should also explore the possibility of a free trade agreement.
Second, engagement remains at an early stage. Both sides should encourage collaboration between think tanks and support the development of young scholars specializing in bilateral relations. Indian universities should also pursue agreements with Taiwanese institutions to expand student and faculty exchanges.
Third, while economic ties remain the foundation of cooperation, both sides should expand into other areas, including climate change, cybersecurity, space, and global governance.
Fourth, India has a strong interest in maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific. Tensions in the Taiwan Strait could affect freedom of navigation, which is critical for India, as roughly 50% of its trade passes through the region.
Fifth, the lack of direct flights continues to limit engagement. Establishing direct routes between New Delhi and Taipei could reduce travel time and boost tourism.
Finally, India faces a shortage of Mandarin-language expertise. Taiwan could help address this gap by supporting the placement of Mandarin instructors in Indian universities.
Sumit Kumar is a Ministry of Foreign Affairs visiting fellow at National Chengchi University in Taipei and an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Delhi.
