China threatens Czech Senate Speaker Wistril over visit to Taiwan

In a warning issued by the Taiwanese government, China’s top diplomat said Monday that Zen Senate Chairman Milos Wistril would “pay a heavy price” for an official visit to Taiwan and China.

Vishtril arrived in Taipei on Sunday on a visit to promote business ties with Taipei, saying the Czech Republic would not bow to Beijing’s objections.

Speaking while in Germany, Chinese State Councilor Wang Yi said there would be revenge.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry told Wang that the Chinese government and the Chinese people would not adopt a lazy attitude or sit idly by and pay a heavy price for their short-sighted behavior and political opportunism.

Wang said the Chinese government and people would not tolerate such “open provocation” by Wistril and the anti-China forces behind it, although he gave no details of how Beijing would react.

Speaking in Taipei, Taiwan’s Minister of Economy Wang Mei-hua dismissed the criticism, however, declined to comment directly on China’s attack on Wistril.

“The Czech Republic and Taiwan are free and democratic countries that have a large collection on human rights. We have the same values ​​as the Czech Republic,” he told reporters before the joint business forum.

Wistril did not directly address China’s criticism of his visit in a short speech at the same event, but instead spoke about how he aims to boost business ties.

“Freedom and democracy are the mainstay of prosperity,” he said, speaking through an interpreter.

Vistril is scheduled to meet with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen after his visit and will address the Taiwanese parliament before leaving on Friday.

China considers Taiwan unfit for a broken province-state relationship.

Czech President Milos Zem has sought to establish business and political ties with China since taking office in 2013, but his efforts have been thwarted by failed investment plans and the spark to allow the Czechs to play a role in developing next-generation telecom networks.