India''s multinational news channel WION recently aired an in-depth report on Taiwan. The 15-minute program has elicited an angry response from the Chinese embassy in India, telling Indian media to adhere to the One-China principle and avoid sending wrong messages to the public. In response, a WION news anchor says they will continue to report on Taiwan and thanked China for the, quote "praise." Over the weekend, Foreign Minister Joseph Wu thanked the Indian news outlet for telling the truth about Taiwan.
From Taiwan''s National Day celebrations to its natural scenery, culture, and economic and trade development, WION''s recent in-depth report "Taiwan: A Force for Good and the Spirit of Resilience" introduced Taiwan to their viewers. It included an interview with Taiwan''s representative in India, Ger Baushuan, so that the Indian public could gain a better understanding of the island nation. But the show triggered a strong reaction from China.
A spokesman of the Chinese embassy in India, Wang Xiaojian, posted on Twitter to express "firm opposition" to the provision of a platform for "Taiwan independent forces." Without naming the news outlet, he urged India''s media outlets to adhere to the one-China principle and avoid sending wrong messages to the public. WION took notice and gave a response.
Palki Sharma Upadhyay
Anchor, WION
If Beijing hates us, rest assured we''re doing something right. We have consistently reported on Taiwan, invited rather many Taiwanese leaders on our shows. And we will continue to do so. Here''s our message to Beijing: keep watching our reports, keep tracking our shows, keep releasing statements, because there''s no better praise for our work
Foreign affairs minister Joseph Wu took to Twitter on Saturday to thank WION. "Bravo for telling the truth about Taiwan, while the communists are incapable of handling the truth," Wu wrote, "the bottom line is that the PRC doesn''t rule over Taiwan; not for a single day." Yu Chih-wei, who goes by the moniker YaoIndia, is a Taiwanese reporter who has spent eight years in India. She says the Sino-Indian border dispute has raised anti-Chinese sentiment in Indian society, thereby increasing the public''s attention on Taiwan.
Yu Chih-wei, aka YaoIndia
Former correspondent in India
In the past, when you saw Indian media reporting on Taiwan, it''s probably mentioned in passing, but later you''d start to see reports on some soft topics and special reports on Taiwan, even focusing on issues that China doesn''t quite like, such as Taiwan''s National Day. These things made China very upset. And once China got upset, how did India respond? They were very pleased. The public''s sentiment and the media''s sentiment reflect the governmental and political sentiments.
Yu pointed out that as anti-Chinese sentiment grows in India, Taiwan-India ties are being strengthened, offering a good opportunity for mutual exchanges between the two nations.
