India-Taiwan Relations: Time is Ripe to Bolster Ties.

2020 will be remembered for a number of reasons. COVID-19 has changed the world in unimaginable ways. However, one silver lining of the pandemic is that it expanded Taiwan's global space. One of the greatest developments of 2020 was a deeper understanding about Taiwan worldwide, especially in India. Due to Taiwan's impeccable COVID-19 response and also India-China violent clashes in the Galwan valley, domestic public opinion in India is increasingly shifting in favour of Taiwan. However, despite this positive momentum, the Indian leadership still remains cautious about elevating political ties with Taiwan. There have been calls to re-evaluate India's China policy and advance ties with Taiwan. India does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, and the relations are managed primarily through unofficial channels. The China factor has loomed large over the prospects of setting the right context for India-Taiwan relations. While the recent standoff has provided a window of opportunity for India to look towards Taiwan, there is need for India to devise a long-term strategy to engage Taiwan. Taiwan too, under the administration of President Tsai Ing-wen, has emphasised the importance of strengthening ties with India. A persistent policy and a long-term framework to guide the relationship is the need of the hour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]