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China has gone on the offensive. The latest target is the
"brash" Czech Republic. The Asian superpower does not like that the
Czechs speak too often about human rights, they excessively address the issue
of Tibet, and hold talks with Taiwanese politicians. Chamber of Deputies Chairman
Lubomir Zaoralek, who returned from China on Wednesday (1 March), had to listen
to these complaints from Wu Bangguo, the chairman of the National People's Congress.
According to Zaoralek, at first, the Chinese were surprisingly
open during the talks, but when sensitive issues came to be discussed, the debate
came to a head. "This was true of issues like Tibet and Taiwan. Mr Bangguo
voiced reservations that many people in the Czech Republic
who do not know even the basic context comment on Tibet and that he would prefer
that such comments were made by unbiased experts, not someone who, according
to him, is paid by God knows who to protest," Zaoralek told.
Zaoralek was bound to listen to much harsher response due to
the Czech Republic's approach to Taiwan, which China considers a rebellious
province. Wu Bangguo warned Zaoralek that the Czech Republic should "not
just refer to the declaration in which it agrees with the policy of One
China, but it should act according to it."
China's criticism is surprising at a time when the Czech Republic
has tried to improve business relations with the country.
"This means that we should not talk with senior officials
of Taiwan," said Zaoralek.
As Zaoralek said, the request that the Czech Republic's words
and actions should not diverge was expressed "quite sharply."
China has protested Czech officials' talks with Taiwan officials
in the past.
Source: Canada
Tibet Committee |
