Beijing warned the Czech Republic’s new president-elect on Tuesday after his phone call with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen.
Petr Pavel, who won Sunday’s presidential election,… vowed to meet Tsai “In person in the future,” setting the stage for an unprecedented opportunity for a meeting between the heads of state of an EU country and Taiwan, which China claims as its territory.
“Despite China’s repeated denials and ProceduresPetr Pavel, president-elect of the Czech Republic, responded to Tsai Ing-wen’s call, a move that marked official contact with Taiwanese authorities and a serious interference in China’s internal affairs,” said Mao Ning, a Chinese foreign ministry official. Spokesperson, said in a press conference, according to Ministry,
China condemns and strongly opposes this, and we have made serious Step To the Czech side,” Mao said. “We urge the Czech Republic to take immediate and effective measures to correct the wrongdoing, minimize the negative impact of this incident, and establish a credible form of the ‘One-China principle’ follow from.”
Under the One China doctrine, the People’s Republic of China views Taiwan as part of China and China as the sole legitimate government of that single state.
According to AFP news agencyMao said that Powell had “trampled China’s red line” and “hurt the feelings of the Chinese people.”
Wang Lutong, head of Europe at the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said in a Tweet He was “surprised” by Powell’s call with Taiwan’s president.
15 minutes phone call on monday Marks a departure from EU norms whereby official exchanges with Taiwan will be limited to civil servant or vice-ministerial level.
It is also a break from the current Czech President Miloš Zeman, whose 10-year term in office saw the Czech presidency closely aligned with Beijing’s own stance on politics and human rights.