Czech speaker invokes Kennedy in Taiwan's parliament, says 'I am Taiwanese'

Czech Senate Speaker declared himself a Taiwanese during a speech in Taiwan’s parliament on September 1, on lines of n US President John F. Kennedy’s defiance of communism in Berlin in 1963. Kennedy’s “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech in West Berlin is often regarded as his best as he told m he was also a Berliner when western bloc of capitalist countries was in a cold war with communist east led by Soviet Union.

“Please let me also express in person my support to Taiwan and ultimate value of freedom and conclude today’s speech...with perhaps a more humble, but equally strong statement: ‘I am a Taiwanese’,” Milos Vystrcil said, followed by a standing ovation.

Beijing has already warned that anyone challenging ‘one-China’ policy will have to pay a heavy price, targeting Czech Republic official over his visit to Taiwan. Vystrcil arrived in Taiwan on August 30 and met top Taiwanese officials, igring Beijing's prior warnings. Calling Czech official visit to Taiwan as “provocation”, China’s foreign minister Wang Yi said that Chinese government will make him pay a heavy for his “short-sighted behaviour.” 

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self-governing island republic considers itself as sovereign while China claims province as Beijing’s territory under its one-China policy and has been pushing to implement Hong Kong system in Taiwan. Wang told reporters during his visit to Germany that challenging one-China policy on Taiwan issue is an act of “international treachery”.

'Take immediate action'

Czech Republic, like most countries, has formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan and any official visit to island is frowned upon by Beijing. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian strongly condemned “anti-China forces” of Czech Republic for interfering in China’s “internal affairs”. spokesperson urged relevant parties in Czech Republic to take immediate action and avoid sabotaging bilateral relations between China and European nation.

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