Czech Leader’s Taiwan Visit Sparks China’s Strong Rebuttal

China sharply rebuked the trip of Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil to Taiwan, claiming it violated Prague’s official stance and meddled in Beijing’s domestic matters. Vystrcil, a member of the centre‑right ODS party, headed a business delegation that will meet Taiwan’s President Lai Ching‑te and other officials. The Chinese embassy in Prague urged the Czech government to enforce the one‑China principle, remove any negative fallout from the visit, and protect the overall relationship between the two countries.China has long objected to any formal ties between Prague and Taipei, insisting Taiwan lacks the right to state‑to‑state relations—a position Taipei firmly disputes. While most nations, including the Czech Republic, officially recognize Beijing rather than Taipei, recent years have seen closer ties with Taiwan’s booming semiconductor sector and increased investment. Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia‑lung visited Prague earlier in May, speaking at a local forum. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis criticized Vystrcil’s trip, and the government did not provide a state aircraft for the journey.