Taiwan on Monday slammed misleading media reports about the influx of 100,000 Indian migrant workers into the island nation.
In response to the reports, the Taiwanese Foreign Ministry said in a statement published on X: “As a pluralistic country, Taiwan boasts significant social diversity & has long embraced migrant workers without prejudice, including those from India. We enjoy flourishing ties with the New South Bound Policy nation & aspire to further enhance our labour collaboration.”
In a follow-up tweet, it added that “The recent surge of racist remarks belittling Indian workers bears the hallmarks of [China’s] cognitive warfare.” “It’s a devious move to tarnish our national image & strain Taiwan-India relations, but the attempt to destroy goodwill in the Milk Tea Alliance won’t prevail!” it added.
The Ministry also said that certain media reports had been efforts in “scaremongering,” as they alleged that 100,000 Indian migrant workers are set to arrive in Taiwan “before the end of this year.”
“These reports include harmful stereotypes and attacked the character of Indian workers, suggesting that workers from China were somehow superior. There was even the absurd suggestion that Taiwan giving opportunities to Indian workers would somehow displease Beijing,” it stated.
Taiwan foreign ministry comes out in support of Indian workers amid China's info Ops. Says, "India is one of our partners.. Enhancing labor cooperation is an important part of this. We shouldn’t let third parties try to destroy the good will" pic.twitter.com/YifmXcfnRn
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) November 21, 2023
The Ministry concluded by saying that such reports are “clearly designed to mislead the Taiwanese public and damage the friendly” bilateral ties between Taipei and New Delhi.
“We’re here to set the record straight. The terms of this cooperative MOU are still under discussion, and there is no basis for the 100,000 figure quoted spuriously in much of the reporting,” it clarified.
“Indian workers have travelled all over the world to work and have an excellent reputation. Currently, there are 2,700 Indian migrant workers living and working in Taiwan, appreciated both by their employers and by the Ministry of Labour,” it reassured.
“Enhancing labour cooperation is an important part of this. We shouldn’t let third parties try to destroy the good will between our countries. Like-minded democracies need to trust one another to fight PRC info ops,” it added, referring to the abbreviation for China’s official name, the People’s Republic of China.