Czech delegation's trip to Taiwan makes international headlines

The AFP French news agency states that this is the second important foreign visit to the island that China is attempting to isolate after a U.S. delegation headed by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar visited Taiwan at the beginning of this month.

The French radio server RFI calls the Czech Senate head’s visit “extremely symbolic.”

The Kyodo Japanese news agency mentions China’s indignation and the fact that Prague Mayor Zdeněk Hřib, who signed a sister city agreement with Taipei previously, is a member of the Czech delegation.

The AP agency recalls that Vystrčil’s predecessor at the Senate’s helm, Jaroslav Kubera planned a visit to Taiwan before his sudden death in January.

“Vystrčil said China’s pressure, including a warning from the Chinese Embassy against congratulating (Taiwanese President) Tsai Ing-wen on her re-election, contributed to his decision to travel to the island,” AP writes.

Kubera’s family accused China of having contributed to his heart attack by its warning letters, RFI and previously the Kyodo news agency reported.

The Taiwanese server Taiwan News stresses that this is a visit by the so far highest-elected Czech official to Taiwan.

AFP recalls  Vystrčil’s wish to follow up the legacy of Václav Havel, the first post-Communist president of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic from 1989-2003. However, Havel visited Taiwan in 2004 only as a former head of state.