Beijing has protested against newly re-elected Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's response to a congratulatory message from Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te and urged New Delhi to be vigilant about Taipei's "political conspiracy".

Mainland China's foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Thursday that Beijing firmly opposed any form of official exchange between the authorities in Taiwan and countries with diplomatic relations with Beijing.

"India has made a solemn political commitment regarding [the one-China policy] and it should be aware of and vigilant against the political conspiracy by the Taiwanese side," Mao said.

On Wednesday, Lai posted a message on X, formerly Twitter, congratulating Modi on winning his third term. Lai said he looked forward to boosting cooperation between Taiwan and India in areas such as the economy and technology.

"We look forward to enhancing the fast-growing Taiwan-India partnership, expanding our collaboration on trade, technology, and other sectors to contribute to peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific," Lai's post read.

In thanking Lai, Modi replied that he also looked forward to "closer ties as we work towards mutually beneficial economic and technological partnership".

Mao, the ministry spokeswoman, said that Beijing had protested to Delhi and reaffirmed "there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People's Republic of China".

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In his message to the newly re-elected Indian prime minister, Taiwanese leader William Lai said he looked forward to boosting the "fast-growing Taiwan-India partnership".

Cross-strait relations and Beijing's ties with Delhi have suffered in recent years amid growing geopolitical tensions.

Lai of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was sworn in as the island's new leader last month. Beijing has called him a "separatist" and "troublemaker", sparking fears that cross-strait relations will remain strained under Lai.

Beijing views Taiwan as part of its territory that must eventually be brought under its control, by force if necessary. Most countries, including the US, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-governed island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.

Modi faces deteriorating India-China ties as he begins his new term as prime minister. In addition to a continued border conflict between the two countries, Beijing and Delhi have different views about various Indo-Pacific issues and China's power rivalry with the United States.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has yet to congratulate Modi following his election victory on Tuesday. Five years ago, Xi sent his congratulations just one day after Modi secured his second term.

The border dispute has been a major obstacle in bilateral relations. In June 2020, at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers were killed in clashes in the Galwan Valley along their disputed Himalayan border.

Troops from the two countries reportedly clashed at least twice in 2022, though no deaths were reported.

But bilateral ties have seen new light this year. Last month, Beijing appointed senior diplomat Xu Feihong as its new ambassador to India, filling an 18-month void.

In an interview with Chinese state broadcaster CGTN, Xu cited an understanding between Xi and Modi, saying that the two countries were cooperation partners, not competitors, and the relationship presented opportunities for development, not threats.

Xu's appointment came after Beijing and Delhi held rounds of commander-level discussions about the border situation, with the latest round concluding in mid-February.

So far, the two sides have held 21 rounds of military talks and 29 rounds of diplomatic negotiations to address the border stand-off.

As ties with Beijing slowly revived, Modi chose to remain silent on Lai's election victory and his inauguration last month, distancing India from Western nations that have sent congratulations to the Taiwanese leader.

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Modi Seeks Closer Ties With Taiwan After Reelection

 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he looks forward to closer ties with Taiwan in a social-media post responding directly to the island’s newly-elected president.

Modi thanked Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, who had congratulated him on X on his third straight election victory. Lai had touted the “fast-growing” India-Taiwan partnership which, he said, would contribute to peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

“I look forward to closer ties as we work towards mutually beneficial economic and technological partnership,” Modi said on X.

Modi faces the renewed challenge in his third term of managing its tense relationship with China, which claims the self-ruled island of Taiwan as its own.

China’s foreign ministry said Beijing had “made protests to India” and reminded New Delhi that it considers Taiwan part of its country.

“India has made serious political commitments and is supposed to recognize, be alarmed about and resist the Taiwan authorities’ political calculations,” said foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning, at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Thursday.

China protests any nation that it has diplomatic ties with from having official contact with Taiwan. China views Lai as a separatist leading Taiwan towards independence, and recently held major military drills around the island following his inauguration.

Relations between India and China have been at a low-point since a border clash in 2020. On Wednesday, China’s Foreign Ministry congratulated Modi on his election win, saying “a healthy and stable China-India relationship is in the interest of both countries.”

India and Taiwan, meanwhile, have been forging closer economic ties under Modi, with the two sides signing a labor-supply pact that could see Taiwan hire as many as 100,000 Indian workers.

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Taiwan says US arms sale shows 'commitment to defence' against China

A Taiwanese Air Force F-16 fighter jet taxis after landing at an air force base in Taiwan

Taiwan thanked the United States on Thursday for approving the sale of equipment and parts for F-16 fighter jets, saying it would help the island defend itself against China.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, and last month launched drills around the self-ruled island days after the inauguration of new President Lai Ching-te.

The United States, a close partner of Taipei, on Wednesday approved two military sales to Taiwan worth approximately $300 million in total, mostly of spare and repair parts for the island's F-16 fighter jets.

The sales approvals were announced in two statements from the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency, set up to provide assistance to the United States' allies and partners.

The United States switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979 but it has remained Taiwan's most important partner and biggest arms supplier, sparking repeated condemnations from China.

Taiwan's defence ministry on Thursday expressed gratitude for the approval of the arms sale, which it expected to take effect in a month's time.

It said the sale would help Taiwan "meet the needs of defence operations", and added: "Military intimidation will not contribute to regional peace and we call on the Chinese Communist Party to stop all kinds of irrational behaviours against Taiwan."

The foreign ministry also welcomed the sale, saying in a post on X that "it showcases an unwavering commitment to our defence... Our dedication to maintaining peace & stability persists amid #China's escalating aggression."

China has said it will never renounce the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, and it maintains a near-daily military presence around the island -- sending in fighter jets, drones and naval vessels.

China launched massive military drills around Taiwan last month, just three days after Lai's inauguration, during which he vowed to defend the island's sovereignty and democracy.

China said the speech was akin to a "confession of Taiwan independence", and described its war games as a "punishment".

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