China lodges stern representations over Czech official's Taiwan visit

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Qin Gang has summoned Czech Ambassador to China Vladimir Tomsik to lodge stern representations against Czech Senate Speaker Milos Vystrcil's visit to the Taiwan region.

Ignoring China's strong opposition, Vystrcil still chose to visit Taiwan and publicly supported the "Taiwan independence" forces and relevant activities. Such an act is a severe violation of China's sovereignty and gross interference in China's internal affairs, said Qin.

There is only one China in the world. The government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole China, and this has long been recognized by the international community, he noted.

The one-China principle is the Czech national foreign policy and the political foundation of Sino-Czech relations, Qin continued.

Vystrcil violated the one-China policy that Czech officials have always promised and seriously violated international law and the basic norms of international relations. China will surely make a necessary response to safeguard its legitimate interests, he warned.

China urges the Czech side to face up to China's solemn position and serious concerns, fully understand the nature of the visit to Taiwan, and do not underestimate the 1.4 billion Chinese people's firm will and determination to firmly defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Qin stressed.

He said China hopes the country can take practical actions to abide by the one-China principle and avoid further damages to bilateral relations by Vystrcil's malicious and short-sighted behavior.

The head of the Department of European Affairs of China's Foreign Ministry and the Chinese Embassy in the Czech Republic also lodged solemn representations with the Czech Embassy in China and the Czech Foreign Ministry.