The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday through a spokesperson that it is “terminating all contact” with the Czech head of state in connection with the recent meeting between Czech President Petr Pavel and the supreme Tibetan leader, the Dalai Lama
Pavel, according to the Chinese Embassy in Prague, has damaged China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity with his visit to the Dalai Lama on July 27, where he expressed his country’s support for the Tibetan cause.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian made a statement on Tuesday, as cited by CTK, which has also reached out to the Czech government for comment.
Asked by China Daily about the visit, Lin Jian replied, “In disregard of China’s repeated protests and strong opposition, Czech President Petr Pavel went to India to meet with the Dalai Lama. This seriously contravenes the political commitment made by the Czech government to the Chinese government, and harms China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this, and has lodged serious protests with the Czech side. In light of the severity of Pavel’s provocative action, China decides to cease all engagement with him.”
Relations between the two countries have been rocky as of late, with China insisting on strict adherence to the One-China policy, i.e., Taiwan is not a separate country, and Tibet is also part of China.
Earlier this year, during a meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky, the latter stressed that the current Czech government does not recognize nor has any policy in favor of Taiwan’s independence.
Wang was hopeful that relations between the two countries could get back on track, stating that to do so would require Czechia to “engage in earnest self-reflection, develop the right perspective about China, and take concrete actions to rebuild trust with China,” wrote the Friends of Socialist China portal.
According to Czechia’s embassy in Beijing, China is the country’s “second largest trading partner, second largest importer and 17th biggest export market.”
