By Yu Ning
Shortly after Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned that Czech Senate speaker Milos Vystrcil will “pay a heavy price” for making an official trip to the island of Taiwan, Czech Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček tweeted on Monday that “Minister Wang’s statements are over the edge.” Petříček said the strong words Wang used “do not belong to relations between the two sovereign countries,” calling on China to pursue “factual, practical cooperation without emotions that do not belong in diplomacy.”
Which side on earth has been “over the edge?” Abiding by the one-China principle is the commitment made by countries that have established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. It’s also a universally recognized norm. When Vystrcil arrived in the island of Taiwan on Sunday on his official trip – a blatant violation of the one-China principle and China’s sovereignty – he and the Czech Republic will inevitably meet China’s opposition, and must bear the consequences. Petříček has publicly expressed his opposition to Vystrcil’s visit. He knows it would undermine China-Czech Republic relations, and that China will take countermeasures against the egregious actions of Vystrcil, who deliberately violated China’s sovereignty and interfered in China’s domestic affairs. The Czech Republic has crossed China’s line first. It’s ridiculous that the provocative side first filed complaints.
The Czech Republic’s provocation will shoot itself in the foot, yet it is trying to smear China’s legitimate warning. It is confusing right from wrong. How can it demand that China take a laissez-faire attitude or sit idly by in front of violations of sovereignty? It’s typical gangster logic. It’s still unknown what countermeasures China might take. But making those who infringe on China’s sovereignty pay a price is the demand and stance of Chinese society. Vystrcil’s provocation has drawn the ire of the Chinese public. Many netizens suggested that China respond by imposing sanctions, or even cutting economic or diplomatic ties.
– The Daily Mail-Global
Times news exchange item
