Taiwan and India are important partners, yet this reality is increasingly being overshadowed in current debates. At a time when Taiwan-India relations are at a crossroads, with clear potential for deeper engagement and cooperation, the labor agreement signed in February 2024 has become a source of friction. The proposal to bring in 1,000 migrant workers from India is already facing significant resistance, with a petition calling for its “indefinite suspension” garnering more than 40,000 signatures.
What should have been a straightforward and practical step forward has instead become controversial. The agreement had the potential to serve as a milestone in deepening bilateral ties and bridging existing gaps; instead, it risks becoming a politicized issue that overshadows the broader promise of the relationship.
Some of the discourse surrounding the agreement, particularly claims that the arrival of Indian workers would increase crimes against women in Taiwan, is not only inappropriate, but overtly racist. More concerning is the amplification of such narratives by the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT). In India, attention is also growing around the timing of KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun’s (鄭麗文) visit to China alongside the party’s opposition to the labor agreement, raising questions about political motivations.
While the issue might appear domestic in nature, it risks undermining Taiwan’s long-term interests. At a time when the nation is seeking to expand international partnerships, such controversies are counterproductive.
The backlash appears to stem from two main factors.
First is the possibility of external political influence exploiting sensitivities around the issue, including disinformation from Chinese sources.
Second, and more importantly, are concerns shaped by limited awareness about India. The public’s perceptions of India are outdated and insufficiently informed, reduced to narrow stereotypes. Regardless of the source of the problem, the solution lies in addressing it constructively. Awareness and sensitivity are crucial.
In 2024, following the signing of the agreement, then-minister of labor Hsu Ming-chun (許銘春) said Taiwan might recruit workers from India’s northeastern region, citing perceived similarities in culture, religion, cuisine and physical appearance.
More recently, amid renewed backlash, the petition against the agreement said Taiwan refuses “to place the personal safety of Taiwanese women on a labor source country that lacks transparency and exhibits significant disparities from our own values regarding gender equality.”
Statements of this nature risk harming bilateral ties and shaping negative perceptions of Taiwan in India, particularly when they do not reflect most views in Taiwan, where India and its people are generally held in positive regard.
While it is important to address the public’s concerns, the choice of language and framing matters. As a long-term Indian resident in Taiwan, such statements and the broader backlash have been disheartening. This is not the Taiwan I know and call home.
India has long been a major source of migrant labor for several countries in the Middle East, where Indian workers have not been associated with increased crime, but have instead become a backbone of economic growth. This context is often missing from debates.
According to labor authorities, the agreement is designed to address pressing labor shortages and demographic challenges.
With a declining population and increasing demand for workers in key sectors, the initiative reflects practical necessity rather than political signaling.
This agreement is not a favor extended by either side; it is a mutually beneficial arrangement between two economies with complementary needs. India enjoys a positive image in Taiwan, just as Taiwan is regarded as an important partner in India. Episodes such as this risk creating unnecessary misunderstandings between the two societies.
A greater Indian presence in Taiwan would likely encourage deeper governmental engagement and stronger people-to-people ties that would, in turn, help bridge existing gaps and make the partnership more substantive and resilient.
Taiwan is widely seen as a friendly partner by India and its people. Politicizing what should have been a noncontroversial issue might ultimately prove counterproductive for Taiwan as it seeks to expand its network of trusted partners.
India is one such partner, and it seeks cordial ties with Taiwan alongside the eventual upgrading of economic, technological and people-to-people engagement.
India’s moment on the global stage has arrived. It is a key partner in the Indo-Pacific region — and an important one for Taiwan. The two nations are natural partners, and their relationship should be approached from that perspective. The current controversy should not be allowed to undermine what could become one of the most consequential partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region.
Sana Hashmi is a fellow at the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation. The views expressed in this article are personal.
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