Chinese diplomats and secret service officers monitored Taiwan's newly elected Vice President Xiao Meiqing and planned to physically intimidate her when she visited Prague last year, Reuters reported, citing Czech military intelligence.
Xiao visited the Czech Republic in March 2024. Prague does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan but maintains warm relations with the democratically-ruled island, which China considers part of its territory.
Czech media reported last year that a Chinese diplomat ran a red light while following Xiao's car. The Czech Public Radio website said yesterday that the Chinese were also planning to stage a demonstration disaster.
A spokesman for Czech military intelligence said that Chinese diplomats in Prague had taken actions that violated diplomatic rules.
“This included physical surveillance of the vice president, gathering information about her schedule and attempts to document her meetings with important representatives of the Czech political and public scene,“ the spokesman said.
“We even reported an attempt by Chinese civilian secret services to create conditions for a demonstration against a protected person, which, however, did not go beyond the preparation phase,“ he added.
A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry denied that Chinese diplomats had done anything wrong and also said that the Czech Republic had interfered in China's internal affairs by allowing Xiao's visit to take place. implemented.
The Czech Foreign Ministry said it summoned the Chinese ambassador last year over the case, but declined further comment on the matter today, Reuters reported.
The Czech Republic's relations with China have soured in recent years. The Czech Republic accused China in May of being responsible for a cyberattack on the Czech Foreign Ministry. Czech politicians have visited Taiwan, and Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen visited Prague last October.