Czech officials have confirmed that Chinese officials harassed Taiwan’s Vice President Hsiao Bi-Khim during her visit to the country. In March 2024, Hsiao’s convoy was followed by Chinese staff, who attempted to cause a car collision with the convoy, according to the Czech intelligence. There was no injury to Hsiao and her staff at that time.

The harassment of the self-governing island’s vice president has caused global controversy since it was reported. Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (I.P.A.C.), the group of global parliamentarians concerned with China’s aggression and human rights abuses, stated on X that “The plan, if successful, would have constituted state terror.” The Czech Republic is a member of I.P.A.C. By quoting I.P.A.C.’s post, Hsiao said, “Thankful to global parliamentarians who have expressed solidarity against violence and coercion. Taiwan will not be isolated by intimidation.” On the other hand, China argued against the accusations. Guo Jiankin, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, said, “No matter how Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party [Hsiao’s current governing party] authorities seek independence by soliciting foreign support in whatever form, they cannot cover up their ill intentions and will certainly fail in their attempts,” while emphasizing Chinese diplomats comply with host nation’s laws. China considers Hsiao as a pro-Taiwan independent, along with Lai Ching-Te, the current president of the self-ruled democracy.

Intimidations against Taiwan’s V.P. should not be allowed. Such harassments or so-called “gray zone tactics” are often employed to pressure groups or those who oppose China’s policies physically and psychologically. Such tactics are not applied reciprocally by the People’s Republic of China. In the past, the former Soviet Union’s agents chased U.S. and U.K. diplomats and their convoys there or in the communist bloc nations during the Cold War. However, stalking and attempting to collide with the vehicle of the nation’s vice president, which 12 countries currently recognize as a sovereign state, is unprecedented, meaning Beijing-Taipei tension reaches another level. If the Chinese agents had succeeded in causing a collision, it could have seriously injured or even killed Taiwan’s Vice President. How would Beijing have taken responsibility for such an outcome? Their actions were reckless and provocative, demonstrating a blatant disregard for diplomatic norms and human safety.

Taiwan has unique relationships with the Czech Republic. Although the two nations have no official ties, they have two reasons to deepen relations. Firstly, balancing acts toward China. Despite the 2016 strategic partnership between Beijing and Prague, some investment plans have not been fulfilled. On the other hand, Taipei is economically lucrative in terms of semiconductors and electronics. Secondly, the two nations share a similar historical experience. Czech transformed itself from a communist regime to a democracy as a result of the 1989 Velvet Revolution. At almost the same time, Taiwan became a democracy by ending decades-long martial law in 1988. Both countries share a transition to democracy and recognize the dangers of autocracy. In 2020, the delegation of Czech Senators visited Taiwan for the first time. Similar visits were also held in 2022 and 2024.

Global democracies and countries that want to support the status quo in the Taiwan Strait should continue to welcome the delegation from Taiwan. As the current Taiwanese government seeks to strengthen unofficial ties with like-minded democracies, including the Czech Republic, Japan, and the U.S., Chinese obstruction and harassment dealt a massive blow to Taipei. Minimizing or canceling visits by Taipei’s officials is exactly what Beijing hopes, as undermining support for Taiwan is likely to damage its legitimacy and lower the hurdle for further intimidation. Eventually, it might pave the way to the forced annexation by Beijing or even potential invasion. Liberal democracies should stand firm against China’s harassment. In the wake of provocative actions by Chinese agents, host nations should adopt a tough approach, including the expulsion of those involved for violating domestic laws and diplomatic norms. No such incident should happen again.