The Chinese government has criticized the president-elect of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, for speaking with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing Wen, a «serious interference» in internal affairs in the opinion of Beijing, which questions any kind of contact with an island it claims as its own.
«It is a flagrant violation of the Czech Republic’s commitment to the one-China principle,» said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning on Tuesday, who confirmed at a press conference that a formal protest has been lodged with Prague.
In this regard, she urged Pavel to take «immediate» measures to «correct the mistake», according to Bloomberg agency.
Pavel won the Czech Republic’s presidential election on Saturday against former Prime Minister Andrej Babis and Tsai was among his first international contacts. According to the future president, the Czech Republic and Taiwan «share the values of freedom, democracy and human rights».
He also expressed his willingness to meet «in person» with the president of Taiwan, who for her part offered to strengthen ties with a country that seems to be leaving behind the doctrine of relations with China defended by the outgoing head of state, Milos Zeman, a fervent supporter of relations with Beijing.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
