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China warns against travel to Czech Republic as tensions rise over Taiwan
- Beijing cites increase in coronavirus cases in European country as reason for caution
- But warning comes after high-profile visit to Taipei by Czech Senate speaker
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China has warned its citizens against travelling to the Czech Republic amid tensions between the two countries over Taiwan.
In a brief statement on Friday, the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism said Chinese citizens should “by no means travel to the Czech Republic” because of “signs of a quick rebound in the Covid-19 pandemic”.
The European country had previously been applauded for its success in tackling the epidemic but earlier this week it reported more than 1,000 coronavirus cases in one day for the first time, prompting authorities to tighten mask-wearing requirements indoors.
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China has largely restricted overseas travel since March and although Beijing cited the spike in infections as the reason for the warning, it came soon after a high-profile visit by a Czech politician to Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own.
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'I am Taiwanese', Czech senate president tells Taiwan's parliament
'I am Taiwanese', Czech senate president tells Taiwan's parliament
Late last month, Czech Senate president Milos Vystrcil made an official trip to Taiwan, the most senior politician from the central European country to visit the self-ruled island in 16 years.
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Beijing has vowed to take back the island and sees any official visit to Taiwan by foreign politicians as a challenge to its sovereignty.
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