#Newspaper
Czech Senate Speaker Plans to Visit Taiwan, Angering China
//The speaker of the Czech Republic's Senate, Milos Vystrcil, has announced he will visit Taiwan despite warnings from China and a recommendation against the trip from his government.
//A letter from the Chinese Embassy in Prague warned Vystrcil against going on the trip, suggesting possible negative consequences for future economic relations between China and the Czech Republic. There was another warning from the Chinese Embassy against congratulating Taiwan’s pro-independence President Tsai Ing-wen on her re-election.
//The Czech Republic has currently established informal relations with Taiwan but recognizes the one-China principle. Taiwan has however invested more in the Czech economy than mainland China.
//Vystrcil said the pressure contributed to his decision to visit Taiwan and believed the Czech Republic will benefit from his trip.
Full Article: U.S. News, (09-Jun)
https://bit.ly/2BxIW0K
Related article:
https://telegra.ph/Is-the-Chinese-ambassador-connected-to-the-death-of-the-late-Czech-President-of-the-Senate-06-07
#Czech #Taiwan #ChinaTaiwanRelations
Czech Senate Speaker Plans to Visit Taiwan, Angering China
//The speaker of the Czech Republic's Senate, Milos Vystrcil, has announced he will visit Taiwan despite warnings from China and a recommendation against the trip from his government.
//A letter from the Chinese Embassy in Prague warned Vystrcil against going on the trip, suggesting possible negative consequences for future economic relations between China and the Czech Republic. There was another warning from the Chinese Embassy against congratulating Taiwan’s pro-independence President Tsai Ing-wen on her re-election.
//The Czech Republic has currently established informal relations with Taiwan but recognizes the one-China principle. Taiwan has however invested more in the Czech economy than mainland China.
//Vystrcil said the pressure contributed to his decision to visit Taiwan and believed the Czech Republic will benefit from his trip.
Full Article: U.S. News, (09-Jun)
https://bit.ly/2BxIW0K
Related article:
https://telegra.ph/Is-the-Chinese-ambassador-connected-to-the-death-of-the-late-Czech-President-of-the-Senate-06-07
#Czech #Taiwan #ChinaTaiwanRelations
US News & World Report
Czech Senate Speaker Plans to Visit Taiwan, Angering China
The speaker of the Czech Republic's Senate has announced he will visit Taiwan despite warnings from China and a recommendation from his own government that he not take the trip.
#Newspaper
China’s view on Czech the Republic
Editor’s note: Below is an article published by official Sina Military account on Weibo about Czechoslovakia, likely a “return” to Crzech’s visit to Taiwan.
(2 Sep) The Munich Agreement was signed on 30 Sep 1938 by Germany, UK, France, and Italy to permit the annexation of the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia into Germany in order to avoid war. At that time, Czechoslovakia had in fact a very well-developed military industry but it had chosen to let other countries decide its destiny. This shows the stupidity and plight of small countries in international politics when they attach themselves to superpowers.
#sinamilitaryvideo
#warmemory
#wangyiwarnsczechyouhavecrosstheline
Source: Weibo
Translated by: Hong Kong Echo
#Czech #CCP #ChinesePropaganda
China’s view on Czech the Republic
Editor’s note: Below is an article published by official Sina Military account on Weibo about Czechoslovakia, likely a “return” to Crzech’s visit to Taiwan.
(2 Sep) The Munich Agreement was signed on 30 Sep 1938 by Germany, UK, France, and Italy to permit the annexation of the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia into Germany in order to avoid war. At that time, Czechoslovakia had in fact a very well-developed military industry but it had chosen to let other countries decide its destiny. This shows the stupidity and plight of small countries in international politics when they attach themselves to superpowers.
#sinamilitaryvideo
#warmemory
#wangyiwarnsczechyouhavecrosstheline
Source: Weibo
Translated by: Hong Kong Echo
#Czech #CCP #ChinesePropaganda
#InternationalRelations
Czech Senate President Visited Taiwan with 90 Delegates in Response to Beijing: Don’t be Someone’s Servant
Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil led a delegation to visit Taiwan on Aug 30, 2020 and was expected to meet the Taiwan President, Tsai Ing-wen, and other officials.
Before the trip, Mr. Vystrcil said the purpose of the visit was to promote business links with Taiwan. He would not bow to Beijing’s objections and said, “you cannot accept being someone’s servant, because when you obey the first time, even for once, it’s assumed that you will do the same ever after.” He added that this trip showed the value-oriented foreign policy of the late President Vaclav Havel, an anti-communist dissident and friend of the spiritual exiled Tibetan leader, the Dalai Lama. Mr. Havel had spoken for Taiwan in the world many times during his reign.
The delegation would meet President Tsai in the morning of Sept 3 at the Presidential Office Building, the spokesperson of Taiwan Presidential Office, Xavier Chang, recently mentioned. It is also hoped that through this face-to-face exchange, Czech and Taiwan will deepen the cooperation in the fields of economic, trade investment, science, technology, medical care, tourism and culture.
The 90-strong delegates included Zdeněk Hřib, the Prague mayor. Before this, nearly 70 parliamentarians from the European Parliament and 8 countries including the United States, Canada and Australia issued an international joint statement, supporting this trip and calling on the leaders of democratic countries to join in to show unity.
Source: Stand News #Aug30
#Czech #Taiwan #MilosVystrcil
Czech Senate President Visited Taiwan with 90 Delegates in Response to Beijing: Don’t be Someone’s Servant
Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil led a delegation to visit Taiwan on Aug 30, 2020 and was expected to meet the Taiwan President, Tsai Ing-wen, and other officials.
Before the trip, Mr. Vystrcil said the purpose of the visit was to promote business links with Taiwan. He would not bow to Beijing’s objections and said, “you cannot accept being someone’s servant, because when you obey the first time, even for once, it’s assumed that you will do the same ever after.” He added that this trip showed the value-oriented foreign policy of the late President Vaclav Havel, an anti-communist dissident and friend of the spiritual exiled Tibetan leader, the Dalai Lama. Mr. Havel had spoken for Taiwan in the world many times during his reign.
The delegation would meet President Tsai in the morning of Sept 3 at the Presidential Office Building, the spokesperson of Taiwan Presidential Office, Xavier Chang, recently mentioned. It is also hoped that through this face-to-face exchange, Czech and Taiwan will deepen the cooperation in the fields of economic, trade investment, science, technology, medical care, tourism and culture.
The 90-strong delegates included Zdeněk Hřib, the Prague mayor. Before this, nearly 70 parliamentarians from the European Parliament and 8 countries including the United States, Canada and Australia issued an international joint statement, supporting this trip and calling on the leaders of democratic countries to join in to show unity.
Source: Stand News #Aug30
#Czech #Taiwan #MilosVystrcil
#Czech
Wang Yi Warns Czech Will Pay Heavy Price for Taiwan Visit
Hopes Europe Will Help Resolve China and the US Tension
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, visiting Europe, hopes that France and other European countries will help ease the tension between China and the United States. In response to Taiwan visit of the delegation of the Czech senate president, Wang reiterated that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. Anyone challenging the one-China principle is making themselves enemies of 1.4 billion Chinese people and will pay a heavy price for their moves.
In a speech on Sunday (Aug 30) at the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI), Wang said that the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century; the threat of the pandemic has not receded; the global economy is in a deep recession. In order to face the waves of unemployment, bankruptcies, broken links and so on, Wang called for China and Europe to unite against the disruption of the world.
He said that China is against any conspiracy of the new cold war and firmly defends multilateralism. Unilateralist and bullying acts have been intensified and posed the biggest challenge to the multilateralism. He urged Europe against unilateralism and bullying acts to prevent the return of politics power. He continued that decoupling from China, a huge and the most dynamic market, meant to disconnect opportunities.
However, when Wang was asked about the tension between China and the US, he hoped France and other European countries assisting in meditation, added that the door of dialogue with Washington is always open. He believed to reach consensus if they could have a serious talk. He emphasised that China always insists peaceful development and oppose confrontation; even some radical forces in the US intend to provoke disputes.
Source: Stand News #Aug31
#Taiwan #China #WangYi #Europe #France
Wang Yi Warns Czech Will Pay Heavy Price for Taiwan Visit
Hopes Europe Will Help Resolve China and the US Tension
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, visiting Europe, hopes that France and other European countries will help ease the tension between China and the United States. In response to Taiwan visit of the delegation of the Czech senate president, Wang reiterated that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. Anyone challenging the one-China principle is making themselves enemies of 1.4 billion Chinese people and will pay a heavy price for their moves.
In a speech on Sunday (Aug 30) at the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI), Wang said that the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century; the threat of the pandemic has not receded; the global economy is in a deep recession. In order to face the waves of unemployment, bankruptcies, broken links and so on, Wang called for China and Europe to unite against the disruption of the world.
He said that China is against any conspiracy of the new cold war and firmly defends multilateralism. Unilateralist and bullying acts have been intensified and posed the biggest challenge to the multilateralism. He urged Europe against unilateralism and bullying acts to prevent the return of politics power. He continued that decoupling from China, a huge and the most dynamic market, meant to disconnect opportunities.
However, when Wang was asked about the tension between China and the US, he hoped France and other European countries assisting in meditation, added that the door of dialogue with Washington is always open. He believed to reach consensus if they could have a serious talk. He emphasised that China always insists peaceful development and oppose confrontation; even some radical forces in the US intend to provoke disputes.
Source: Stand News #Aug31
#Taiwan #China #WangYi #Europe #France
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
French Foreign Ministry Backs Czech Republic, Canada’s Opposition Leader Vows to Stand up to China as PM
The French government has issued a statement in support of the Czech Republic and called out on China for threatening the Czech senate president Miloš Vystrčil, who had recently led a delegation to Taiwan.
Le Figaro and Agence France-Presse (AFP) quoted Agnes von der Muhll, spokesperson for the French foreign ministry, as saying that “Europe’s relations with China must be founded on dialogues, reciprocity and mutual respect, all of which are crucial to fostering a deeper partnership.” “With that in mind,” she continued, “any threat to an EU member state would be unacceptable. We express our support for the Czech Republic.”
Earlier, China’s foreign minister Wang Yi lambasted Vystrčil's visit to Taiwan as being “provocation” and said the Czech statesman will have to “pay a high price for his short-sightedness and political opportunism.” The Czech foreign ministry responded by saying that Wang’s comment went “too far” and summoned the Chinese ambassador to Prague for an explanation.
Meanwhile in Canada, the new leader of the Conservative Party and a contender in the next prime minister election Erin O’Toole wrote to the National Post, outlining his China policy. He said he is ready to confront China, citing his repeated demands for the Canadian government to speak up for Hong Kong and Taiwan, both of which have been targeted by the Chinese communist regime. The 47-year-old O’Toole vowed to stand up to China as prime minister.
Source: Apple Daily #Sep02
#France #Czech #Canada #Taiwan #China #Vystrcil #ErinOToole #WangYi #Diplomacy
https://bit.ly/2FOU8rO
The French government has issued a statement in support of the Czech Republic and called out on China for threatening the Czech senate president Miloš Vystrčil, who had recently led a delegation to Taiwan.
Le Figaro and Agence France-Presse (AFP) quoted Agnes von der Muhll, spokesperson for the French foreign ministry, as saying that “Europe’s relations with China must be founded on dialogues, reciprocity and mutual respect, all of which are crucial to fostering a deeper partnership.” “With that in mind,” she continued, “any threat to an EU member state would be unacceptable. We express our support for the Czech Republic.”
Earlier, China’s foreign minister Wang Yi lambasted Vystrčil's visit to Taiwan as being “provocation” and said the Czech statesman will have to “pay a high price for his short-sightedness and political opportunism.” The Czech foreign ministry responded by saying that Wang’s comment went “too far” and summoned the Chinese ambassador to Prague for an explanation.
Meanwhile in Canada, the new leader of the Conservative Party and a contender in the next prime minister election Erin O’Toole wrote to the National Post, outlining his China policy. He said he is ready to confront China, citing his repeated demands for the Canadian government to speak up for Hong Kong and Taiwan, both of which have been targeted by the Chinese communist regime. The 47-year-old O’Toole vowed to stand up to China as prime minister.
Source: Apple Daily #Sep02
#France #Czech #Canada #Taiwan #China #Vystrcil #ErinOToole #WangYi #Diplomacy
https://bit.ly/2FOU8rO
Slovak President Backs Czech Republic, Calls China’s Threat “Unacceptable”
The Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi has sparked outrage across Europe as he threatened the Czech senate president Miloš Vystrčil for his visit to Taiwan. Echoing the German foreign minister and the EU’s foreign ministry, the Slovak president Zuzana Čaputová said she could not accept China’s threat. This is the first time a European head of state has criticized China for Vystrčil’s visit to Taiwan.
In a Twitter post, Čaputová wrote, “Slovakia stands by the Czech Republic. EU-China relations are based on dialogue and mutual respect. Threats directed at one of the EU members and its representatives contradict the very essence of our partnership and as such are unacceptable.”
47-year-old Čaputová became Slovakia’s first female president in June 2019. Slovakia is a member of the European Union and has close ties with the Czech Republic. The two were formerly a single country, splitting peacefully into two independent states in 1993.
In an interview in Germany on 31 August, Wang said “Vystrčil must be made to pay a heavy price for his short-sightedness and political opportunism” in response to the Czech statesman’s visit to Taiwan. Norbert Rottgen, chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the German parliament, protested against the threat and called on the EU to be united in protecting the Czech Republic from China’s reprisals. Peter Stano, the European Commission’s foreign affairs spokesman, also expressed displeasure at Wang’s language, though adding that the matter would have to be discussed bilaterally between the Czech Republic and China.
Source: Apple Daily #Sep02
#Slovakia #Czech #EU #Taiwan #China #Caputova #Vystrcil #WangYi
https://bit.ly/3mzTqzE
The Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi has sparked outrage across Europe as he threatened the Czech senate president Miloš Vystrčil for his visit to Taiwan. Echoing the German foreign minister and the EU’s foreign ministry, the Slovak president Zuzana Čaputová said she could not accept China’s threat. This is the first time a European head of state has criticized China for Vystrčil’s visit to Taiwan.
In a Twitter post, Čaputová wrote, “Slovakia stands by the Czech Republic. EU-China relations are based on dialogue and mutual respect. Threats directed at one of the EU members and its representatives contradict the very essence of our partnership and as such are unacceptable.”
47-year-old Čaputová became Slovakia’s first female president in June 2019. Slovakia is a member of the European Union and has close ties with the Czech Republic. The two were formerly a single country, splitting peacefully into two independent states in 1993.
In an interview in Germany on 31 August, Wang said “Vystrčil must be made to pay a heavy price for his short-sightedness and political opportunism” in response to the Czech statesman’s visit to Taiwan. Norbert Rottgen, chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the German parliament, protested against the threat and called on the EU to be united in protecting the Czech Republic from China’s reprisals. Peter Stano, the European Commission’s foreign affairs spokesman, also expressed displeasure at Wang’s language, though adding that the matter would have to be discussed bilaterally between the Czech Republic and China.
Source: Apple Daily #Sep02
#Slovakia #Czech #EU #Taiwan #China #Caputova #Vystrcil #WangYi
https://bit.ly/3mzTqzE
Tycoon Shoulders Multimillion-Koruna Czech Piano Purchase Cancelled by Chinese Buyer over Senate President’s Visit to Taiwan
A Chinese buyer cancelled a 5.3 million-koruna (approximately 1.83 million-Hong Kong dollar) order with the Czech piano maker Petrof as Beijing fumed over a recent visit to Taiwan led by the Czech senate president Miloš Vystrčil. The Czech News Agency and Forbes reported that Czech tycoon Karel Komárek had took on the purchase and donated all 11 handmade pianos involved to local schools.
Petrof’s CEO Zuzana Ceralová Petrofová said earlier that a Chinese customer from Beijing had cancelled a close order because of Vystrčil’s visit to Taiwan. Petrof is a renowned musical instrument brand with the Chinese market contributing to about 35% of its revenue. The company is worried that further deterioration of the Czech Republic’s relations with China will have an impact on its business.
In a surprising turn of event, Czech tycoon Karel Komárek and his wife were reported on 9 September to have taken on the rejected purchase. Having learnt that a Chinese customer had cancelled an order with Petrof, said Komárek, the billionaire decided to buy the 11 pianos involved in the name of the foundation KKCG and donate them to schools in the Czech Republic. These pianos, he hopes, can become a symbol of Czech pride and unity.
Source: Stand News #Sep09
#Czech #Taiwan #China #Vystrčil #Piano #Petrof #Komárek #Diplomacy
https://bit.ly/35NWEd0
A Chinese buyer cancelled a 5.3 million-koruna (approximately 1.83 million-Hong Kong dollar) order with the Czech piano maker Petrof as Beijing fumed over a recent visit to Taiwan led by the Czech senate president Miloš Vystrčil. The Czech News Agency and Forbes reported that Czech tycoon Karel Komárek had took on the purchase and donated all 11 handmade pianos involved to local schools.
Petrof’s CEO Zuzana Ceralová Petrofová said earlier that a Chinese customer from Beijing had cancelled a close order because of Vystrčil’s visit to Taiwan. Petrof is a renowned musical instrument brand with the Chinese market contributing to about 35% of its revenue. The company is worried that further deterioration of the Czech Republic’s relations with China will have an impact on its business.
In a surprising turn of event, Czech tycoon Karel Komárek and his wife were reported on 9 September to have taken on the rejected purchase. Having learnt that a Chinese customer had cancelled an order with Petrof, said Komárek, the billionaire decided to buy the 11 pianos involved in the name of the foundation KKCG and donate them to schools in the Czech Republic. These pianos, he hopes, can become a symbol of Czech pride and unity.
Source: Stand News #Sep09
#Czech #Taiwan #China #Vystrčil #Piano #Petrof #Komárek #Diplomacy
https://bit.ly/35NWEd0
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