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RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 001325 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2016 
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PINR PREL TW XR
SUBJECT: TAIWAN SEEKING TO COUNTER THE PRC IN INDIA 
(C-AL6-00293) 
 
REF: STATE 47515 
 
Classified By: AIT Deputy Director David J. Keegan, Reason 1.4 (b/d) 
 
¶1. (C) The following is in response to questions posed in 
C-AL6-00293 (reftel) on Taiwan's efforts to enhance bilateral 
ties with India. 
 
¶2. (C) Summary: Taiwan is pursuing closer economic ties with 
India to bolster its political relationship and counter a 
growing reliance on the PRC economy.  While welcoming Taiwan 
investment, particularly in the high-tech sector, New Delhi 
has made it clear that it has no interest in relations with 
Taipei outside of the economic sector.  Indian diplomats in 
Taipei also privately criticize Taiwan's strategy as too 
aggressive and short-sighted, warning that Taiwan risks 
provoking PRC retaliation.  End summary. 
 
Taiwan Eager For Closer Ties 
---------------------------- 
 
¶3. (C) Taiwan government officials are eager to enhance 
bilateral ties with India to counter Taipei's growing 
dependence on the PRC economy.  Taipei authorities, in 
cooperation with the pro-government Taiwan Think Tank, 
established the Taiwan-India Cooperation Council (TICC) in 
February as part of an ambitious new strategy to encourage 
companies to invest in the Indian market.  Taiwan Think 
Tank's Lai I-chung laid the groundwork for TICC and called 
the Indian market "untapped" for Taiwan businesses.  He told 
AIT that Taipei wants Taiwan firms to invest in India instead 
of the PRC to reduce Taipei's economic reliance on Beijing. 
Lai also noted that Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) 
Secretary-General Yu Shyi-kun's appointment as TICC Chairman 
 
SIPDIS 
highlights the importance the Chen Shui-bian administration 
places on TICC and the India relationship. 
 
¶4. (C) Taiwan officials also believe stronger economic ties 
will strengthen Taipei's political relationship with New 
Delhi.  Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Section Chief for 
South Asia Ben Chen told AIT that if Taiwan pushes economic 
ties, a political relationship will naturally follow.  Taiwan 
Think Tank's Lai separately agreed, arguing that investment 
will lead to better bilateral ties.  Chen also noted that 
Taipei is promoting cultural and educational exchanges to 
give Indians a better understanding of Taiwan.  The primary 
goal of reaching out to the Indian market, Chen explained, is 
to counterbalance Taiwan's growing economic dependence on the 
PRC.  Taipei's biggest problem in this effort, he said, is 
PRC pressure on New Delhi and India's fear of alienating 
Beijing. 
 
India Views Taiwan Goals As Unrealistic 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) Indian diplomats in Taipei told AIT that Taiwan 
officials have unrealistic expectations for India-Taipei 
relations.  India-Taipei Association (ITA) Director-General 
Vijay Gokhale stressed that India welcomes Taiwan investment, 
particularly in the high-tech sector, and that he believes 
the two economies are highly complementary with many areas 
for mutual cooperation and development.  He noted, however, 
that Taiwan officials are living in a dream world with their 
inflated expectations for India-Taiwan relations and belief 
that Taiwan can use India to counterbalance the PRC.  Gokhale 
bluntly stated that New Delhi has no interest in relations 
with Taipei outside of the economic sector. 
 
¶6. (C) Gokhale also sees Taiwan's current India strategy as 
short-sighted.  He told AIT that Taiwan officials are 
overzealous in pushing closer economic ties and have not 
developed a long-term policy.  From his point of view, Taiwan 
is simply trying to throw millions of dollars in investment 
for short-term political gain.  Gokhale argued that Taiwan's 
failure to focus on a particular sector or industry mutually 
beneficial to both governments is not a solution for 
 
TAIPEI 00001325  002 OF 002 
 
 
improving bilateral ties.  A carefully focused strategy on an 
industry that India wants to develop, such as the computer 
chip or software industry, he explained, would be more 
practical and promote closer ties. 
 
¶7. (C) Taipei's zeal to promote better ties with New Delhi 
could backfire.  Gokhale argued that the PRC will likely take 
notice of Taiwan's loud publicity highlighting its "new" 
relationship with India.  Beijing could retaliate against 
Indian and Taiwan firms, he explained, many of which also do 
business with the PRC.  Gokhale worried that Taiwan officials 
are ignoring India's refusal to go beyond limited economic 
contacts and still believe they can use economic ties to 
develop a political relationship with New Delhi.  Without a 
more discreet or practical policy, he said, the strategy will 
backfire because India is not willing to jeopardize ties with 
the PRC. 
 
Can Taiwan Convince Firms to Invest? 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶8. (C) Taiwan also faces challenges in convincing Taiwan 
companies to invest in India instead of the PRC.  In a survey 
of Taiwan business leaders, some remarked that the government 
can try to urge them to invest in certain places, but 
ultimately, it is market forces that drive their decisions. 
They added that the PRC market is appealing because of the 
large contact base of over one million Taiwanese PRC 
residents, as well as familiar culture and language.  ITA's 
Gokhale also noted that while the Indian market looks very 
tantalizing at first glance, it has much government red-tape, 
a unique culture, and a language barrier for many Taiwan 
businesses.  Taipei, he argued, is overly optimistic if it 
believes Taiwan companies will rush to invest in India. 
 
Bio Note 
-------- 
 
¶9. (C) Vijay Gokhale, the Director-General of the 
India-Taipei Association, is an experienced diplomat with 
previous service in the PRC.  He has made clear on several 
occasions his strong personal sympathy for Taiwan and its 
international difficulties. 
 
Comment: More Caution Needed 
---------------------------- 
 
¶10. (C) Taiwan has much to offer India in the field of 
technology as well as a source of direct investment capital. 
New Delhi, however, has made it clear that it has no 
intention of risking its delicate relations with the PRC over 
economic and political ties with Taiwan.  Furthermore, Taipei 
has been warned that it must tread lightly with its India 
strategy or risk alienating Beijing, which could result in 
retaliation against Indian and Taiwan firms.  So far, Taiwan 
officials seem to only hear what they want to hear and 
continue to push forward very aggressively.  If Taipei fails 
to pursue a more cautious and pragmatic relationship, it 
risks damaging future India-Taiwan relations. 
YOUNG