Shubhjyoti Ghosh BBC Bangla, Delhi
An hour ago

Image source, GETTY IMAGES
Photo caption,
Taiwanese soldiers and civilians carrying the Taiwanese flag on the streets of Taipei
The Chinese embassy in India has sent an unprecedented letter reminding the country's media not to deviate from the 'One China' or 'One China' policy pursued by their government.
In a letter sent just three days before Taiwan's national day, China told Indian media that Taiwan should not be referred to as a separate "country" and that Taiwan's leader should not be called "president."
Military tensions have been simmering on the Indo-China border for the past few months, with 20 Indian soldiers killed in clashes with Chinese forces in Ladakh in June.
This is the first time that such a letter has been sent to the Indian media by China.
The letter, sent from the press section of the Chinese embassy in Delhi, reminded Indian media that Taiwan was "an integral part of China's sovereign territory."

Image source, GETTY IMAGES
Photo caption,
In Ladakh, Indian troops are heading towards the Chinese border. September, 2020
Taiwan celebrates their National Day on October 10 every year.
It was on this day in 1911 that the Yuchang armed coup began, overthrowing the Qing Dynasty and giving birth to the 'Republic of China'.
Just three days before Taiwan's National Day celebrations, the heads of various Indian newspapers and television channels or journalists received the letter from the Chinese embassy on Wednesday.
Earlier, Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong also warned the Indian media not to ask India to reconsider its "one China" policy.
Indian media started writing after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a clash with Chinese forces in Ladakh's Galwan Valley, and Delhi should increase diplomatic ties with Taiwan to put pressure on China.
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Photo caption,
Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong and his wife
However, adhering to the "one China" policy is a strict condition of Beijing's diplomacy - China does not believe in maintaining relations with countries that recognize Taiwan.
In this context, Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong commented in a webinar in July, "Trying to influence public opinion to change India's position on the border dispute issue in Taiwan, Hong Kong or the South China Sea - which worries me."
The Chinese embassy also sharply criticized an Indian newspaper in February for publishing an interview with a Taiwanese envoy to the country (not called an "ambassador").
Taiwan does not have full diplomatic relations with India at the moment.
However, both sides have 'commercial offices' in Delhi and Taipei, which act as embassies for each other.

Photo source, BBC BANGLA
Photo caption,
Excerpt from the letter sent by the Chinese embassy
Meanwhile, major media houses or newspaper groups in India have not officially responded to the letter from the Chinese embassy.
The BBC has learned that on Taiwan's National Day (October 10), there were plans to place a pair of advertisements or attach advertisements in various Delhi newspapers.
There is no doubt that the advertisement is very necessary for the newspaper industry which is in financial crisis due to the Covid epidemic.
On the other hand, ignoring China's warnings could lead to the loss of ads from Chinese companies, including mobile phones operating in India, which media houses have to keep in mind.