Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry has issued “sincere apologies” following a comment by Taiwan’s labor minister that has threatened to disrupt fast-warming ties between the island republic and India.

In an interview with Yahoo TV final week, Hsu Ming-chun, Taiwan’s minister of labor, mentioned that Taiwan might begin recruiting migrant employees from India’s northeast area as a result of “their skin color and eating habits are similar to ours.” She added that “most of them believe in Christianity, and [have] skills in manufacturing, construction and agriculture.”

Critics on social media referred to as the remarks racist.

Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry issued an announcement late Monday calling Hsu’s feedback “not entirely appropriate” and expressed “sincere apologies.”

“Taiwan will welcome any Indian worker who meets conditions for recruitment and satisfies industry demand, regardless of their ethnic background,” the ministry mentioned in an announcement.

Amid a quickly getting old inhabitants, Taiwan has been searching for to increase its supply of international employees past Southeast Asian nations. Most now come from Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, in line with the Center for International and Strategic Studies.

Taiwan signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with India on February 16, laying the framework for recruiting employees from India, which has excessive unemployment and a fast-growing inhabitants. India overtook China final 12 months because the world’s most populous nation with greater than 1.4 billion folks.

The particulars of the implementation of the MOU have but to be labored out, however Bloomberg reported in November it may contain hiring as many as 100,000 Indian employees for business, agriculture and well being care on the self-ruled island. Taiwan has denied that it expects to rent that many employees.

China has been publicly silent on the settlement however could possibly be irked by any bilateral settlement involving Taiwan, which it considers a breakaway province that should someday reunite with mainland China, by pressure if crucial.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs didn’t instantly reply to the labor minister’s feedback or the ministry’s apology. But there was some home backlash from India’s enterprise sector.

“The Taiwanese minister’s statement is racist in nature, and it disrespects our Indian ethos,” mentioned Nafisul Q. Jilani, a Delhi-based businessman who needs to do enterprise with Taiwan. “In the wake of current geopolitical fragility, such statements are unwarranted, and they could hamper the growing bilateral relation(s) between India and Taiwan.”

He added that “India is a diverse country and constitutionally, every Indian is an equal citizen. We believe that any opportunity should be given on candidates’ individual merit, and not based on his/her skin color, appearance or religion.”

Namrata Hasija, a analysis fellow on the Delhi-based Centre for China Analysis and Strategy, informed VOA these sorts of statements hurt the connection between the 2 governments.

Leaders in Taiwan “should sensitize their ministers to India, and they should understand that both countries have come a long way,” mentioned Hasija, who can be a member of the advisory committee arrange by Taiwan’s Ministry of Labor to have a look at labor points with India.

“But if ministers, politicians and bureaucrats are not sensitized towards India, they don’t know India, and they don’t understand how diverse India is. Then such hiccups will keep coming in, and there will be a negative image of Taiwan here. Why give fodder to China, who are trying to dismantle the relationship?” she requested.

Priya Purswaney, an Indian entrepreneur and interpreter primarily based in Taipei, informed VOA the Indian neighborhood there “is slightly shocked by these comments, and such comments do not represent the majority view and do not align with the government’s policy on India, which has been actively working to strengthen ties with India.”

“The particular comment that has been criticized was not meant to be offensive to anyone,” mentioned Purswaney. “She just had an error of judgment and has apologized for that. I hope the matter is not dragged on any further, because this agreement is definitely beneficial to both sides and marks an important milestone in India-Taiwan collaboration.”

Purswaney famous that Hsu was stuffed with reward for India, Indians and migrant employees from India throughout the TV interview, emphasizing the contribution they’ve made in lots of nations around the globe.

Like most nations, India has no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan and adheres to a “One China” coverage as do different governments that want to have formal relations and do enterprise with Beijing. India was one of many first noncommunist nations to acknowledge the federal government in Beijing, however New Delhi maintained casual ties with Taipei whereas commerce and different exchanges flourished.

While bilateral commerce between India and Taiwan is a modest $8 billion per 12 months, in comparison with $136 billion between India and China, Taiwan is house to at the least 5,000 Indian residents and diaspora, thought of among the many finest educated within the expatriate neighborhood.

Nearly 3,000 Indian college students research in Taiwan, making up the fastest-growing group of worldwide college students.