Two small adversaries of Russia and China are swapping notes to survive

The Czech Republic takes more initiative on Taipei's behalf than other EU members, officials say

- Daniel Michaels

In an era of brutal great-power politics, how do lesser powers get by? For this embattled Pacific island, a lifeline comes from landlocked Slavs half a world away.

Taiwan and the Czech Republic, living in the shadow of China and Russia, have found common cause when small powers worry about being trampled by bigger rivals. Of roughly 200 countries and independent territories on Earth, fewer than 10 have significant global sway.

The issue is gaining fresh urgency as security specialist who runs the first European think tank in Taiwan, the Prague-based European Values Center for Security Policy.

Diplomats and business people say the Prague-Taipei friendship—which involves cooperation in intelligence, trade and investment—helps both sides.

For Taiwan, which Beijing works to isolate internationally, Czechs offer a welcome link to the world—even though the two don't have formal diplomatic relations. The Czech Republic, a member of the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, takes more initiative on Taipei's behalf than other EU members, particularly in building business ties, say officials.

Czechs are channeling Taiwanese humanitarian aid to Ukraine in its fight against Russia because Kyiv and Taipei don't have diplomatic relations. Czechs are Taiwan's most ardent advocates inside NATO, say diplomats. NATO is building links to Asia-Pacific allies including Japan and South Korea amid fears of China's malign activities in and near Europe, but is hesitant with Taiwan.

"Every time we need support, the Czech Republic is always there to support us," said Joseph Wu, the head of Taiwan's National Security Council and former foreign minister, on a visit to Prague.

Taiwan's experience facing China, meanwhile, is valuable to Prague and its neighbors.