The president-elect of Czechia, Petr Pavel, has caused a diplomatic stir by calling the Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen to offer words of encouragement. This move has sparked anger from the communist government, which has accused Pavel of disregarding diplomatic protocol. While Czechia maintains a one-China policy, Pavel felt that diplomatic relations with China were not enough to prevent him from calling Tsai.

China’s Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Mao Ning Mao accused the president-elect of “stepping on China’s red line, seriously interfering in China’s domestic affairs, and hurting the feelings of the Chinese people.” The move is reminiscent of former US President Donald Trump’s call to Tsai in 2016, which similarly angered the Chinese government.

However, some experts argue that Pavel’s call did not technically violate Czechia’s one-China policy, as he was a private citizen and not yet head of state at the time of the call. Michael Cunningham, a Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation’s Asian Studies Center, pointed out that similar calls were made by President-elect Trump and other private citizens. Cunningham believes that the speaker of the Czech parliament’s visit to Taiwan later in the year will have a far greater impact than Pavel’s call.

This incident highlights the complex and sensitive nature of international diplomacy and the importance of following established protocols. While Pavel’s call may have been well-intentioned, it risked causing unnecessary tension between Czechia and China, which could have broader implications for the relationship between Europe and China. The incident also raises questions about the future of Taiwan’s international status, as more countries may follow in the footsteps of the US and Czechia by engaging directly with Taiwan.
Article by Prague Forum