BEIJING/TAIPEI (CHINA/TAIWAN) – A top diplomat of the Chinese government said on Monday that Czech Senate speaker Milos Vystrcil will have to “pay a heavy price” for making an official visit to Taiwan. The warning was dismissed by Vystrcil, saying he was not interested in political confrontation.
The Czech speaker flew down to Taipei on Sunday as part of a visit to boost trade ties with the island nation. He said the Czech Republic would not buckle to China’s objections. Beijing considers Taiwan to be a renegade province and hence cannot have diplomatic ties with any country.
Chinese State Councillor Wang Yi said the act of the Czech Senate speaker will invite retribution.
“The Chinese government and Chinese people won’t take a laissez-faire attitude or sit idly by, and will make him pay a heavy price for his short-sighted behaviour and political opportunism,” said the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
According to Wang, China will not allow any “open provocation” by Vystrcil and the anti-China forces behind him.
On the other hand, Vystrcil said Wang’s statement was tantamount to meddling in Czech internal affairs.
“We are a free country seeking to have good relationships with all countries and I believe this will be the case in the future irrespective of the statement of the Minister. And let me repeat again – this visit is by no means meant to politically confront anyone,” he said.
“The Czech Republic and Taiwan are free and democratic countries which put great store on human rights. We have the same values as the Czechs,” said Taiwan Economics Minister Wang Mei-hua.
The speaker is due to meet Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and will also address the Taiwanese parliament before leaving on Friday.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field.