Anger as Chinese Foreign Minister Threatens Czech Senate President: Scholar Says Czechs Are “Standing up to CCP’s Hooliganism”
China’s foreign minister Huang Yi said earlier that Miloš Vystrčil, the Czech senate president who visited Taiwan, will “pay a heavy price”. Noting such rare strong responses from the Czechs as summoning the Chinese ambassador, Czech scholar Filip Jirous said China had crossed the line and the Czechs are “standing up to CCP’s hooliganism”. Whether the Czechs’ relations with China will worsen depends on what China is up to and its next step.
In an interview with a Czech media organization on 31 August, Vystrčil criticized Huang for meddling with the Czech Republic’s internal affairs and said his comments were regrettable. Vystrčil stressed that the Czech Republic is a sovereign nation committed to developing good relations other countries. In leading a delegation to Taiwan, he aimed to foster cooperation between the two democracies and create good conditions for the Czech economy to grow. Vystrčil said also that Huang’s comments reminded him of the threatening letter sent to his late predecessor Jaroslav Kubera.
Kubera was scheduled to visit Taiwan in February, only to die a sudden death before the trip. In Vystrčil’s speech at National Chengchi University on the afternoon of 31 August, he mentioned that Kubera was planning on a visit to Taiwan but was pressured to call it off by the Chinese embassy and top-level Czech officials.
The pro-Beijing Czech president Miloš Zeman is strongly opposed to Kubera’s and Vystrčil’s visits to Taiwan. Meanwhile, the Czech foreign ministry summoned the China ambassador Zhang Jianwen on 31 August to protest against China’s unusually strong comment.
Source: Apple Daily #Sep01
#Czech #Taiwan #China #Vystrcil #Kubera #Zeman #Diplomacy
https://bit.ly/301yKqX
China’s foreign minister Huang Yi said earlier that Miloš Vystrčil, the Czech senate president who visited Taiwan, will “pay a heavy price”. Noting such rare strong responses from the Czechs as summoning the Chinese ambassador, Czech scholar Filip Jirous said China had crossed the line and the Czechs are “standing up to CCP’s hooliganism”. Whether the Czechs’ relations with China will worsen depends on what China is up to and its next step.
In an interview with a Czech media organization on 31 August, Vystrčil criticized Huang for meddling with the Czech Republic’s internal affairs and said his comments were regrettable. Vystrčil stressed that the Czech Republic is a sovereign nation committed to developing good relations other countries. In leading a delegation to Taiwan, he aimed to foster cooperation between the two democracies and create good conditions for the Czech economy to grow. Vystrčil said also that Huang’s comments reminded him of the threatening letter sent to his late predecessor Jaroslav Kubera.
Kubera was scheduled to visit Taiwan in February, only to die a sudden death before the trip. In Vystrčil’s speech at National Chengchi University on the afternoon of 31 August, he mentioned that Kubera was planning on a visit to Taiwan but was pressured to call it off by the Chinese embassy and top-level Czech officials.
The pro-Beijing Czech president Miloš Zeman is strongly opposed to Kubera’s and Vystrčil’s visits to Taiwan. Meanwhile, the Czech foreign ministry summoned the China ambassador Zhang Jianwen on 31 August to protest against China’s unusually strong comment.
Source: Apple Daily #Sep01
#Czech #Taiwan #China #Vystrcil #Kubera #Zeman #Diplomacy
https://bit.ly/301yKqX
Pro-China Czech President Calls Senate Head’s Visit to Taiwan “Naïve Provocation”
The Czech senate president Miloš Vystrčil has faced criticism for visiting Taiwan, where he declared “I am Taiwanese,” upon his return. During a TV debate, the Czech president Miloš Zeman slammed Vystrčil for engaging in “naïve provocation.” Vystrčil responded by saying that the Czechs must uphold freedom and democracy and not rely on any undemocratic country if they wish to be prosperous.
The three highest-ranking officials under the Czech constitution—president Miloš Zeman, prime minister Andrej Babiš, and senate president Miloš Vystrčil—showed up in Party, a political debate programme produced by the Czech TV channel Prima and CNN Prima NEWS, on 7 September. Zeman spoke first, followed by Babiš and Vystrčil, who had a vigorous debate.
Vystrčil’s visit to Taiwan did not have the support of the Czech government, which is responsible for formulating the country’s foreign policies. Zeman stated that he would not invite Vystrčil to top-level foreign policy meetings. He slammed the visit as being “naïve provocation” and detrimental to Czech enterprises. Since Zeman was elected as president in 2013, he has been looking to strengthen economic and political ties with China. With the investment plan stalling, however, Czech politicians are divided on working with China.
Responding to Zeman, Vystrčil said the government had never discussed or voted on whether he should visit Taiwan. The senate president added that had never claimed that Taiwan was an independent country during his visit. He emphasized that the visit had been conceived by his late predecessor Jaroslav Kubera. Babiš said he was opposed to the visit and had never suggested Kubera to do that. Even the late president Václav Havel, who had been most friendly with Taiwan, had never set foot there, said Babiš. The prime minister said Havel had always respected the ‘One China’ policy and criticized Vystrčil for his complete lack of understanding of how things work in the world outside. Babiš also questioned Vystrčil’s point that the visit was his way of making a stand. Out of the 193 UN members, he said, only 15 recognized Taiwan. “Are the rest of them kowtowing to China?” he retorted.
Source: Apple Daily #Sep07
#Czech #Taiwan #China #Vystrcil #Zeman #Babis #Diplomacy
https://bit.ly/2HmSXRz
The Czech senate president Miloš Vystrčil has faced criticism for visiting Taiwan, where he declared “I am Taiwanese,” upon his return. During a TV debate, the Czech president Miloš Zeman slammed Vystrčil for engaging in “naïve provocation.” Vystrčil responded by saying that the Czechs must uphold freedom and democracy and not rely on any undemocratic country if they wish to be prosperous.
The three highest-ranking officials under the Czech constitution—president Miloš Zeman, prime minister Andrej Babiš, and senate president Miloš Vystrčil—showed up in Party, a political debate programme produced by the Czech TV channel Prima and CNN Prima NEWS, on 7 September. Zeman spoke first, followed by Babiš and Vystrčil, who had a vigorous debate.
Vystrčil’s visit to Taiwan did not have the support of the Czech government, which is responsible for formulating the country’s foreign policies. Zeman stated that he would not invite Vystrčil to top-level foreign policy meetings. He slammed the visit as being “naïve provocation” and detrimental to Czech enterprises. Since Zeman was elected as president in 2013, he has been looking to strengthen economic and political ties with China. With the investment plan stalling, however, Czech politicians are divided on working with China.
Responding to Zeman, Vystrčil said the government had never discussed or voted on whether he should visit Taiwan. The senate president added that had never claimed that Taiwan was an independent country during his visit. He emphasized that the visit had been conceived by his late predecessor Jaroslav Kubera. Babiš said he was opposed to the visit and had never suggested Kubera to do that. Even the late president Václav Havel, who had been most friendly with Taiwan, had never set foot there, said Babiš. The prime minister said Havel had always respected the ‘One China’ policy and criticized Vystrčil for his complete lack of understanding of how things work in the world outside. Babiš also questioned Vystrčil’s point that the visit was his way of making a stand. Out of the 193 UN members, he said, only 15 recognized Taiwan. “Are the rest of them kowtowing to China?” he retorted.
Source: Apple Daily #Sep07
#Czech #Taiwan #China #Vystrcil #Zeman #Babis #Diplomacy
https://bit.ly/2HmSXRz