PRAGUE: The speaker of the Czech upper house of parliament will travel to Taiwan with a trade mission at the end of August, potentially further souring his country's relations with China, which regards the island as a part of its territory.
The Czech Republic adheres to the "One China" policy, like most countries, but unofficial ties with Taiwan exist, mainly in business and science.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Any visit would infuriate Beijing, which views Taiwan as a Chinese province with no right to state-to-state relations.
"Such action is significant interference into China's sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state," China's embassy in Prague said in an email.
"It significantly breaches basic norms of international relations and bilateral political commitments and it undermines political basis for future cooperation between China and the Czech Republic."
READ: Czech prime minister says China's ambassador should be replaced
Advertisement
Advertisement
For Taiwan, it would be a valuable show of international support at a time when China has ramped up pressure on Taiwan to get it to accept Chinese sovereignty.
Milos Vystrcil's decision follows a plan to visit Taipei by his predecessor as Senate speaker, Jaroslav Kubera. Kubera died in January before he could make the trip.
A document sent by China's Embassy in Prague to the Czech president's office in January suggested that Czech companies operating in mainland China, such as Volkswagen subsidiary Skoda Auto or lender Home Credit, would suffer if Kubera visited the self-ruled island.
Vystrcil, member of the centre-right opposition, Read More – Source
[contf]
[contfnew]
channel news asia
[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]
