Should India be worried about China-Taiwan tensions? | Ep #35

Worldview with Suhasini Haidar - A podcast by The Hindu - Saturdays

This week on Worldview, the recent tensions between China and Taiwan, how worried India should be about the situation? Chinese jets across Taiwan, US and UK exercises in the waters, how worried should India be about the situation in the South China Sea? Over 4 consecutive days this week China sent a record number of 149 jets to conduct sorties inside Taiwan’s Air Defence Identification Zone. China considers Taiwan a part of its territory, although since 1949 it has been controlled by a separate government. The sorties came as the US UK and allies conducted military exercises in the region, passing south of Taiwan, including the British carrier Queen Elizabeth, the first time it has sent this kind of ship and flotilla since 1997. Also follows the first Quad summit in Washington and the announcement of the AUKUS partnership for nuclear submarines in Australia Taiwanese Defence Minister called it the worst situation in 40 years, and Taiwanese President Tsai Ing Wen wrote in an article that Taiwan will never bow to Chinese pressure The US, which criticised the flights, counselled restraint, President Biden said the US and China will abide by their earlier agreements. At a meeting in Zurich US NSA Jake Sullivan and Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi set the stage for a virtual summit between Biden and Xi in the next two months. The Taiwan situation also came up during a visit to Delhi by US Dy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, who called the Chinese strikes a very dangerous action. IAF chief said he would not comment on an issue between two other parties Read on why it matters to India and more here