China hits out after Prague council cancels sister-city deal
- Beijing says Czech capital committed a breach of faith for not backing one-China principle
Czech President Milos Zeman has pushed ties with Beijing, but the capital’s government has played a part in diplomatic spats between the two nations, such as one over the mayor’s refusal of a Chinese demand to eject a Taiwan official from a conference.
“This type of action can be termed a breach of faith, and does harm to China and the Czech Republic’s relationship and the atmosphere of cooperation and exchange,” the Chinese embassy in the Czech Republic said in a statement on its public WeChat account.
“We urge the Prague city government to make a fresh start and to return to the correct path that promotes the development of bilateral relations.
“Otherwise, ultimately, the damage will be their own interests.”
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The embassy of the Czech Republic in China could not immediately be reached for comment.
The council’s decision to cancel the agreement must ultimately be approved by the city assembly.
The city’s leadership, elected last year, says it is not standard for city-to-city partnerships, such as the one signed by the previous administration in 2016, to include diplomatic matters that are up to national governments.
The Czech Republic has agreed to the one-China policy.
“The one-China principle concerns China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and involves China’s core interests. It is the basis and premise for China to carry out all foreign exchanges and cooperation,” the embassy said.
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Ties have already been dented by a warning last year by the Czech cybersecurity watchdog against the risks of using equipment made by China’s Huawei and ZTE in critical infrastructure.
Expectations of billions of dollars worth of Chinese investments in the country have also not materialised.
