Czech Senate President to Visit Taiwan, Defends Trip Amid Business Concerns

Czech Senate President Miloš Vystrčil is set to embark on a visit to Taiwan this Sunday, leading a delegation that includes business and academic figures. Despite not being granted a government aircraft for the journey, Vystrčil will travel via a commercial flight, accompanied by entrepreneurs and scholars.

During his visit, Vystrčil is scheduled to meet with top political leaders of Taiwan, including the president and vice-president, as well as several ministers. A significant part of the trip will focus on business, and a bench dedicated to Václav Havel will be unveiled. The delegation is expected to remain in Taiwan until June 4.

Vystrčil strongly refuted claims made by Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, who suggested that visits by Czech politicians to Taiwan have negatively impacted Czech businesses in China. Vystrčil countered by highlighting that his 2020 trip to Taiwan, followed by subsequent visits and activities, led to a substantial increase in bilateral trade and significant Taiwanese investments in the Czech Republic. These investments, he noted, have created nearly 25,000 jobs and fostered high-tech trade.

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This is something completely different than, for example, importing T-shirts from the People's Republic of China.

"This is something completely different than, for example, importing T-shirts from the People's Republic of China," Vystrčil remarked, differentiating the nature of trade. While he expressed no opposition to trade with China, he stressed the importance of conducting business on equal and mutually beneficial terms, rather than under conditions where one party is subservient.

The Czech Senate President also criticized the government's refusal to provide a government plane for his trip, calling it a "betrayal." He pointed to companies like Škoda, whose sales in China began declining before Czech politicians started visiting Taiwan, suggesting that Babiš's claims are unfounded. Vystrčil expressed disappointment with the prime minister's statements and curiosity about future developments regarding Czech-China relations.

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I am very sorry about Mr. Prime Minister's statements. And as for his interest in the PRC, I am very curious how it will develop further.