Czech President seeks toning down of tensions with China over Senate's trip to Taiwan

With China condemning Czech Senate’s trip to Taiwan, Czech President Milos Zeman sought to dismiss spiralling tensions on September 6 and called visit of its speaker as a “boyish provocation”. Shortly after Czech Senate speaker Milos Vystrcil, who visited island without backing of government, made comment of being a “Taiwanese” in a speech at Taiwan parliament, China expressed its anger. 

According to international media reports, Czech government has said that its speaker would “pay a heavy price” for visiting democratic island that China views as its own breakaway province. controversial trip of Vystrcil also prompted Prague to summon China’s ambassador. Meanwhile, Zeman has reportedly sought closer political and trade relations with Asian superpower since he took office in 2013. However, his efforts seemed to have failed with unsuccessful investment plans and division among politicians. 

Recently, in a televised interview, Czech President said that he would stop inviting Senate speaker to meetings of state’s top foreign policy officials and ted that his trip could dam for firms but added that China’s remarks were reportedly exaggerated. “I consider it boyish provocation,” Zeman said of trip. Like most countries across globe, Czech Republic does t have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan even though island remains a large investor in European country. 

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China-Taiwan tensions

Meanwhile, tensions between both nations have been soaring with most recently Taiwan deuncing Beijing's “vulgar threats” to Czech Senate Speaker who visited Taiwan igring Asian superpowers' threats. China has already made it evident that for its government, Taiwan is a breakaway province and has even indicated willingness to use force to recapture it.

However, Taiwan has reiterated that it is an independent nation and has even removed Republic of China from its official passport. so-called breakaway province of China has grown stronger over years with constant backing from United States. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump’s administration has t left a single opportunity to get back at China since COVID-19 pandemic originated in December 2019 from a province in Asian superpower. 

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(With ncy inputs)