Taiwan and India are secretly developing military cooperation despite the lack of diplomatic ties, the United Daily News reported Wednesday. The two countries have started exchanging military intelligence and Taipei has sent a military attache to India, the Chinese-language daily said.

Top Indian Air Force officials visited the island some time ago to exchange views with Taiwan's Air Force Commander Chen Chao-min, the paper said quoting reliable sources.

Contacts between the two sides started during the administration of former President Lee Teng-hui, it added.
Taiwan's defence sources said developing military cooperation with India was like setting an ambush on China's backdoor, the paper said. Beijing considers Taiwan part of Chinese territory and has vowed to invade the island if it tries to declare independence.

India recognizes Beijing, instead of Taipei, as the legitimate government of all of China but ties between the two neighbours have often been rocky, with Beijing maintaining warm relations with Pakistan. Closer military links between India and Taiwan might trigger US concern that Taipei could decide some day to introduce nuclear weapons from India to deter the constant missile threat from China. Bureau Report