Wuhan spirit expected to prevail at BRICS summit

The unprecedented “bonhomie” surrounding the informal Wuhan summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping has given rise to hope that the two biggest Asian powers are about to enter into a period of constructive engagement and cooperation. India and China have made several giveand-take gestures following the informal summit. After Air India’s announcement to change Taiwan’s name to “Chinese Taipei”, a pattern of certain favours extended by both countries towards each other marks a significant change in the tone of India-China relations. The Modi-Xi summit has given rise to expectations of major breakthroughs in this month’s BRICS summit in Johannesburg, where the two leaders are set to meet once more to take the bilateral relationship to a new trajectory.

On Thursday, even as the Taipei Economic and Cul- tural Center in India (TECC) protested Air India’s decision to refer to Taiwan as “Chinese Taipei”, Raveesh Kumar, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said, “The decision of Air India is consistent with international norms and our own position on Taiwan since 1949.”

The Modi government has in the past said that it would support Beijing’s “One China” policy, but that China must support New Delhi’s “One India” policy. On 25 April, the Civil Avia- tion Administration of China (CAAC) asked 34 airlines to describe Taiwan as part of China on their websites. Air India does not have a direct flight to Taiwan, but has a code-share flight with Air China. Therefore, accepting China’s circular on Taiwan is being seen as India going the extra mile to maintain good relations with China.

Apart from Air India “renaming” Taiwan, in another development this week, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted licence to Bank of