China’s Ties With Key European Ally Nosedive Over Taiwan

China’s relationship with a country that become supposed to be a key proponent of its hobbies in Europe is growing increasingly more caustic.

The Czech Republic, an ex-communist member of the European Union, once hoped to come to be a gateway for funding to the continent. But spats over Chinese territorial claims, Huawei Technologies Co. And espionage have strained ties to the breaking point.


Czech President Milos Zeman, so far the staunchest backer of closer family members, has even canceled a planned visit.

The state-of-the-art tension came as the local government in Prague signed a partnership treaty this week with the Taiwanese capital, Taipei. Prague had already ended a sister-town settlement with Beijing after rejecting needs to sever ties with Taiwan and Tibet.

The Taiwan % angered China, with Shanghai saying Tuesday it became suspending respectable contacts with Prague. It accused the Czech capital of interfering in Chinese inner affairs and acting inappropriately on troubles “that undergo on the center hobbies” of the Asian state.

“We urge the administration of Prague to recognize its errors as quickly as possible, put off the terrible impact via concrete actions, and adhere to the One China precept,” Shanghai’s town government said in a assertion.

Prague has long been a bastion of support for Tibet, with politicians repeatedly website hosting the exiled Dalai Lama -- to China’s annoyance. On taking office in 2018, the new liberal administration restored past due President Vaclav Havel’s exercise of flying the Tibetan flag from metropolis corridor.

The national authorities has taken a exclusive tone. Police suppressed peaceful protests and pressured people to eliminate Tibetan flags from their houses while Chinese President Xi Jinping visited in 2016.

But Zeman has shown symptoms he’s now souring on China.

On Sunday, he canceled an April go to to the 17+1 summit among China and international locations from principal and eastern Europe, announcing the Asian nation had failed to deliver on pledges of billions of greenbacks in investments.

“I don’t suppose the Chinese aspect has fulfilled what it promised,” Zeman stated in an interview streamed on line.