The Indian statement did not mention the one-China principle. My Ambassador to India： I hope that India can publicly reaffirm its adherence to the one-China principle like many countries.
[Text/Observer Network Qi Qian] After Pelosi’s flight to Taiwan caused tension in the Taiwan Strait, as a member of the "Quad(Quadrilateral Security Dialogue)" of the United States, Japan, Australia and India, Indian officials have remained silent. While the outside world was speculating about India’s attitude, the Indian Foreign Ministry suddenly voiced on August 12th that "India’s relevant policies are consistent and need not be repeated", but it did not directly mention "adhering to the one-China principle".
This statement has attracted the attention of Indian and American media. Bloomberg mentioned that the Indian government adheres to the one-China principle, but in recent years, due to border conflicts and other reasons, India has not reiterated this position in bilateral documents and public statements.
On August 13th, local time, Sun Weidong, Chinese Ambassador to India, held a media forum on Pelosi’s flight to Taiwan. Sun Weidong said that the one-China principle is the political basis of China-India relations and the fundamental prerequisite for China to develop relations with other countries, including India. "We hope that India can publicly reaffirm its adherence to the one-China principle like many countries."
Photo from the Embassy in India
According to the news from the Embassy in India, on August 13th, Ambassador Sun Weidong held a media forum on US House Speaker Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, China. A number of mainstream Indian media, as well as Xinhua News Agency, China Central Radio and Television Station and other media stationed in India and China participated.
Sun Weidong said, as we all know, the cause of the current tension in the Taiwan Strait is that the US insists on arranging Speaker Pelosi to visit Taiwan, China despite China’s resolute opposition and repeated representations. It is only natural that China should respond resolutely and defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, which is reasonable, legal and justified. The cause and effect of the incident are clear at a glance, and the responsibility lies entirely with the US.
Sun Weidong emphasized to the Indian media that Pelosi’s channeling to Taiwan was an out-and-out political farce, and the initiator was the United States. Taiwan Province has belonged to China since ancient times and has never been a country. Both sides of the strait belong to the same China. This is the status quo of Taiwan Province since ancient times. Faced with the perverse actions of the US and the Democratic Progressive Party authorities in Taiwan Province, China has no choice but to fight back.
He further pointed out that China hopes that India will adhere to an independent foreign policy, understand and support China’s just stand and its efforts to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and abide by the one-China principle. I also hope that our friends in the Indian media will be alert to the instigation of the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, adhere to the principles of objectivity, rationality, independence and justice in their reports on Taiwan, abide by the one-China political commitment made by the Indian government, and will not be led by the anti-China forces and the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.
Sun Weidong also claimed that,The One-China principle is the political basis of Sino-Indian relations and the fundamental premise for China to develop relations with other countries including India. "We hope that India can publicly reaffirm its adherence to the one-China principle like many countries."
According to The Hindu, Sun Weidong’s remarks were in response to questions from Indian media. At the symposium, a reporter asked, what do you think of the Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman’s statement on the situation in the Taiwan Strait the day before, but he did not reiterate the one-China principle?
Screenshot of Indian media report
On August 12th, a spokesman for the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs suddenly made a statement on the Taiwan Province issue, saying that "India’s relevant policies are well known and consistent, and there is no need to repeat them". He added that India urged all parties to exercise restraint and oppose any unilateral change in the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.
It is worth noting that after Pelosi’s flight to Taiwan caused tension in the Taiwan Strait, Indian officials have remained silent, neither reaffirming the one-China principle like most countries in the world, nor making irresponsible remarks on Chinese military exercises on the side of the United States. Bloomberg previously quoted an analysis as saying that "no response is also a response", which shows that the degree to which India is prepared to turn to the "American track" when seeking to manage its relations with China is limited.
The Indian side suddenly voiced but did not directly mention "one China", which attracted the attention of Indian and American media. Among them, Bloomberg mentioned that although the Indian government pursues the one-China principle, due to border conflicts and other reasons, in recent years, the Indian side has not reiterated this position in bilateral documents and public statements.
Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Allan Bagchi, video screenshot.
In addition, Ambassador Sun Weidong also had frank and in-depth exchanges with reporters on China-India relations, the border situation and bilateral economic and trade cooperation.
Sun Weidong told Indian media that Indian students would return to China "soon".
In July this year, Wang Wenbin, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, responded that the work of returning Indian students to China has made positive progress recently, and the competent authorities of both sides will continue to maintain close communication and strive for the first batch of Indian students to return to classes as soon as possible.
When talking about Sino-Indian relations, Sun Weidong pointed out that China attaches great importance to bilateral relations and is "trying to get Sino-Indian relations back on track". He stressed: "We hope that this kind of effort can get a response from India. We believe that when we achieve this goal, it will certainly benefit not only our two sides, but also the region and the world. "
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