Czech President Pavel: Cooperation with Taiwan More Beneficial Than with China
Czech President Petr Pavel stated that cooperation with Taiwan brings more practical benefits, such as jobs and technology, than with China. This comes as the Czech government denied a special plane for the Senate Speaker's trip to Taiwan due to fears of harming business ties with China.
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- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 18:28
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 18:31 (3 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 18:41 (9 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA Reporter Liu Yuting, Prague, 23rd) The Czech government refused to provide a special plane for Senate Speaker Miloš Vystrčil to visit Taiwan, citing concerns over potential damage to Czech commercial interests in China. President Petr Pavel stated that the current government should take a pragmatic view of relations with Taiwan, citing job creation through investment and technology sharing. He believes that cooperation with Taiwan may be more beneficial to the Czech Republic than its current cooperation with China.
According to the Czech News Agency (ČTK), Czech President Petr Pavel told the media on the 22nd during his visit to the Pardubice region in central Czechia that the country pursues a "One China policy," but this does not preclude cooperation with Taiwan.
Pavel pointed out that if the current government emphasizes a pragmatic foreign policy, then it should also view relations with Taiwan pragmatically. For instance, considering job creation, technology sharing, and other economic benefits generated through investments. He argued that this means cooperation with Taiwan could be more beneficial to the Czech Republic than current cooperation with China.
Pavel added that this does not rule out maintaining normal relations with China. The Czech Republic is a sovereign state and should not let anyone dictate who it can or cannot cooperate with. He also emphasized that the Czech Republic has not violated or questioned China's sovereignty, and stands firm on its position of cooperating with Taiwan.
Senate Speaker Miloš Vystrčil is scheduled to visit Taiwan between late May and early June. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš pointed out that Vystrčil's trip to Taiwan is a "million-crown journey" that could damage Czech economic interests in China, hence the government will not provide a state plane for Vystrčil to travel to Taiwan.
Therefore, the delegation led by Vystrčil will take a direct flight from Prague to Taipei. This route was launched three years ago with Vystrčil's backing. Vystrčil called the government's decision a "betrayal" and described it as a "stab in the back" to the representatives of the business, scientific, research, and cultural communities who planned to accompany him on the trip, whose participation has now become uncertain.
Vystrčil also questioned Babiš's remarks. Babiš had stated that the government would pursue a pragmatic rather than value-driven foreign policy, suggesting that value-based diplomacy "brings almost no results." Vystrčil, however, believes that "talking about pragmatic diplomacy without a foundation of values is completely meaningless."
The Czech Republic is a parliamentary democracy. Executive power is centered around the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, responsible for daily administration and policy decisions. The President is the head of state and, besides ceremonial and diplomatic functions, also holds certain substantive powers, such as appointing the Prime Minister and Cabinet members, and exercising veto power over laws. (Editor: Zhang Zhixuan) 1150423
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(CNA Reporter Liu Yuting, Prague, 23rd) The Czech government refused to provide a special plane for Senate Speaker Miloš Vystrčil to visit Taiwan, citing concerns over potential damage to Czech commercial interests in China. President Petr Pavel stated that the current government should take a pragmatic view of relations with Taiwan, citing job creation through investment and technology sharing. He believes that cooperation with Taiwan may be more beneficial to the Czech Republic than its current cooperation with China.
According to the Czech News Agency (ČTK), Czech President Petr Pavel told the media on the 22nd during his visit to the Pardubice region in central Czechia that the country pursues a "One China policy," but this does not preclude cooperation with Taiwan.
Pavel pointed out that if the current government emphasizes a pragmatic foreign policy, then it should also view relations with Taiwan pragmatically. For instance, considering job creation, technology sharing, and other economic benefits generated through investments. He argued that this means cooperation with Taiwan could be more beneficial to the Czech Republic than current cooperation with China.
Pavel added that this does not rule out maintaining normal relations with China. The Czech Republic is a sovereign state and should not let anyone dictate who it can or cannot cooperate with. He also emphasized that the Czech Republic has not violated or questioned China's sovereignty, and stands firm on its position of cooperating with Taiwan.
Senate Speaker Miloš Vystrčil is scheduled to visit Taiwan between late May and early June. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš pointed out that Vystrčil's trip to Taiwan is a "million-crown journey" that could damage Czech economic interests in China, hence the government will not provide a state plane for Vystrčil to travel to Taiwan.
Therefore, the delegation led by Vystrčil will take a direct flight from Prague to Taipei. This route was launched three years ago with Vystrčil's backing. Vystrčil called the government's decision a "betrayal" and described it as a "stab in the back" to the representatives of the business, scientific, research, and cultural communities who planned to accompany him on the trip, whose participation has now become uncertain.
Vystrčil also questioned Babiš's remarks. Babiš had stated that the government would pursue a pragmatic rather than value-driven foreign policy, suggesting that value-based diplomacy "brings almost no results." Vystrčil, however, believes that "talking about pragmatic diplomacy without a foundation of values is completely meaningless."
The Czech Republic is a parliamentary democracy. Executive power is centered around the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, responsible for daily administration and policy decisions. The President is the head of state and, besides ceremonial and diplomatic functions, also holds certain substantive powers, such as appointing the Prime Minister and Cabinet members, and exercising veto power over laws. (Editor: Zhang Zhixuan) 1150423
Stand with the facts, every sponsorship from you is the power to guard press freedom.
Download CNA's "First-hand News" APP to instantly grasp the latest news.
The text, images, and audio-visuals on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.