Former Prague Mayor Defends Standing Tall Against Beijing's Political Pressure

Zdeněk Hřib, former Mayor of Prague and current member of the Czech Chamber of Deputies, reflected on his administration’s decision to reject Beijing’s “One China” political clauses, opting instead to establish a sister-city relationship with Taipei. During the “Achievements of Cooperation between the Czech Republic and Taiwan” conference held on the 18th in Prague, Hřib emphasized that maintaining one’s integrity in the face of political pressure holds invaluable worth.

Highlighting the flexibility of “city diplomacy,” Hřib noted that even after Prague terminated its agreement with Beijing, the city faced no economic decline. He dismissed claims of potential financial losses as baseless, noting that cultural exchanges, such as those involving the Prague Philharmonia, found new opportunities in Taiwan. Furthermore, he highlighted that Beijing’s promised investments failed to materialize into substantive economic growth or high-tech development.

Since partnering with Taipei in 2020, Hřib noted significant cooperation, including Taiwan’s pandemic aid and the successful breeding of pangolins at the Prague Zoo. He concluded that in the face of authoritarian pressure, concession is not an option, as it compromises digital sovereignty and security without securing economic prosperity. He advocated for deeper ties with Taiwan to achieve a win-win in both values-based diplomacy and pragmatic economics.