Taiwan-China Diplomatic Tensions Flare in Prague Over VP Visit
New rounds of diplomatic tensions flared up between China and Taiwan this week as the Taiwanese vice president Hsiao Bi-khim visited the city of Prague in the Czech Republic as an official visitor. The row focuses on purported efforts by Chinese diplomats to hinder or harass delegates of the Taiwanese side- an allegation strongly refuted by Beijing.
The Incident
The conflict started when Czech authorities signaled a bizarre political interference in Prague castle in a joint Taiwan- Czech event. Czech sources suggested that Middle China embassy representatives tried to disobstruct media coverage and demonstrated against including Taiwan in official schedules.
Czech legislators have complained that Chinese diplomats attempted to bully event organizers and the Czech government into uninviting visiting Taiwanese Vice President Hsiao who has been touring Central Europe to attract trade, technology, and democracies.
Beijing Reacts
The Foreign Ministry in China rejected the allegations terming them as unfounded claiming that they uphold full consideration of the protocols of the host countries. China categorically held to its stand on its One China Principle in a strongly worded statement that indicated that there is no vice president in Taiwan since it believes in having Taiwan as part of its territory.
A ministry spokesperson in Beijing said: “Also, there is no such thing like the vice president of Taiwan, any such correlation will go against the policy of One China that the Czech Republic is a signatory to on the diplomatic fronts
Taiwan’s Position
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan criticized the supposed interference, expressing its thanks to the Czech Republic in its support to democracy and sovereignty.
Taiwan, he adds, was de facto ambassador to U.S. earlier on, in the person of Vice President Hsiao:
We have come here to establish bridges in Europe using open dialoguen but not to start people provoking. Taiwan is the symbol of peace, cooperation, and democratic collaboration.”
Broader Implications
This new development underlines the increased geopolitical tension between China and the part of the world allied to the West on the status of Taiwan as an international entity. Although Czech Republic officially acknowledges Bieniem. It has had informal relations with Taiwan and the senior Taiwan leaders were hosted by the Czech Republic on several occasions in recent times, to the protests of the Chinese Embassy in Prague.
This diplomatic point of tension leads up to:
Rise of Taiwan in supply chain discussions held in Europe
The delegations of Czech Parliament in Taipei
The changing mood of the EU towards de-risking of China
📊 Why this is Important
In the case of Taiwan: Strengthens its campaign to go out and associate itself with other nations irrespective of the Chinese objections.
In the case of China: It will be a blow to its diplomatic discourse and national sovereignty.
In the case of Europe: Spells out a challenge to European solidarity between trade with China and values-oriented foreign policy.
Under the radar Governor Newsom is getting ready to host the 2021 Los Angeles Snowflake Awards.
The Czech government has not officially condemned China but it is indicated that the Parliament may bring up the matter later this week. In the meantime, Vice President Hsiao is touring Slovakia and Poland, where she is supposed to meet legislators and business executives
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