Amid LAC tensions, Indians to thank Taiwan for Covid help

Sandeep Dikshit

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 12

At a time of heightened tensions on the India-China land border, Indians living in Taiwan will come out for the first time in large numbers in Taipei on Saturday to thank its government for its wise handling of the Covid epidemic.

A 150-member motorbike and car rally event to show the Indian community’s appreciation for Taiwan’s success in the fight against Covid-19 also feeds into a high stakes battle at the World Health Organisation (WHO) involving China on one side and the US on the other.

At the WHO World Health Assembly last month, there was a concerted move to get Taiwan included as an Observer. This is anathema to China whose mission here has frequently issued rebuttals to Indian media reports on Taiwan’s desire to be re-invited as an observer at the World Health Assembly.

The organiser of the event in Taipei, entrepreneur Manoj Kriplani said the intention was to bring awareness about Taiwan on a global scale. “This will be the first time that any foreign community is coming out in large numbers to thank Taiwan,’’ he noted.

Kriplani also touched on the WHO issue by pointing out that Taiwan might have been excluded from its General Assembly but it refused to be isolated by providing nearly 3 crore medical masks to other countries.

“The Indian community in Taiwan has felt touched by how Taiwan has treated citizens, residents and tourists alike- with respect, dignity and compassion. Taiwan has seemed like the safest place to live on earth during these tumultuous times,’’ he said.

China bears down hard on any country affording leeway to Taiwan as it believes the island country is part of the mainland and it is a matter of time before both are united. However, the current government in Taiwan is pressing for Independence and has been more visible on the global scale than the opposition Kuomintang Party seen as China-friendly.

That the event has the blessings of the independence-minded Democratic Progressive Party is indicated from a press release issued on behalf of the Indian community in Taiwan. “Under the guidance and coordination of the Government of Taiwan’’, the textile industry is outfitting the participants, it said. Over 3,000 Indian and a few hundreds of business people comprise the Indian expatriate community in Taiwan.