Research
New Faculty Publication: The Momentum of Taiwan-India Relations in the Era of US-China Competition – Dr. Yu-Hua Chen
Dr. Yu-Hua Chen, Assistant Professor in AIU’s Global Studies Program, authored a chapter in the recently published book,Decoding the Chessboard of Asian Geopolitics.
Chapter Abstract and Link
Title: The Momentum of Taiwan-India Relations in the Era of US-China Competition
Given the geographical distance, Taiwan and India had barely any meaningful contact during the Cold War, even though both countries faced a decades-long military threat from China. Despite the budding of Taiwan-India relations in the 1990s, the scale and speed were rather limited, if not stagnant, for the next twenty years. Puzzlingly, the development of Taiwan-India relations over the past decade suddenly fast-forwarded economically, culturally, and diplomatically. How to explain the unprecedented development of Taiwan-India relations? This chapter challenges the conventional view that China’s military actions along the Sino-Indian border are a sufficient explanation for the unprecedented development of Taiwan-India relations in this decade. It argues that the rapid development of Taiwan-India relations is a historical coincidence in which three key factors converged simultaneously: Modi’s vision for India, Tsai Ing-wen’s vision for the future of Taiwan, and state identity transformation in the Indo-Pacific region. This chapter further implies (1) that it is unlikely that relations between Taiwan and India will revert to the situation of ten years ago, when leaders on both sides barely recognized each other’s importance; and (2) while nuanced differences may exist, India’s relations with Taiwan could be more similar to those of other democracies in the Indo-Pacific region.
About the Book
This book is part of a two-volumes exploration comprising 18 chapters organized into four distinct thematic sections. This volume delves into the geopolitical dynamics and power relations in East and Southeast Asia and the Global North. It examines the interactions of regional and extra-regional powers from both military and soft power perspectives. It highlights China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region, Russia’s involvement in Myanmar’s political economy, and Taiwan’s situation. It also examines the dynamics of India-Taiwan relations and North Korea’s foreign policy. This book presents interconnected discussions on various themes, offering valuable insights for readers. It provides useful insights into the role of the Global North from multiple perspectives. This will benefit students, scholars, and academicians from diverse disciplines such as International Relations, Foreign Policy, Defence and Strategic Studies, Political Science, Peace and Conflict Studies, and Journalism. The other volume provides an in-depth analysis of the intricate power struggles within this Asian region, with a particular focus on India, and delves into the power dynamics of Central Asia, and West Asia offering a comprehensive examination of the geopolitical and power-related issues that shape these regions.