Taiwan V-P Says She Won't Be Intimidated After Alleged Plot by China

Taiwan's Vice-President Hsiao Bi-khim said she will not be intimidated by China after Czech military intelligence said Chinese diplomats and secret service followed her and planned to intimidate her physically when she visited Prague in 2024.

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Ms Hsiao visited the Czech Republic in March 2024. Prague does not have diplomatic ties with Taiwan but has warm relations with the democratically-governed island, which China views as its own territory despite Taiwan's rejection.

Czech media reported in 2024 that a Chinese diplomat had run a red light when following Ms Hsiao's car. Czech public radio news website irozhlas.cz said on June 26 that the Chinese had also planned to stage a demonstrative car crash.

"I had a great visit to Prague and thank the Czech authorities for their hospitality and ensuring my safety. The CCP's unlawful activities will NOT intimidate me from voicing Taiwan's interests in the international community," Ms Hsiao wrote in a post on X social media platform on June 28, referring to the Chinese Communist Party. Her post was linked to the Reuters report on the incident.

In a separate post on X, Ms Hsiao thanked global parliamentarians who have expressed solidarity against "violence and coercion".

"Taiwan will not be isolated by intimidation," Ms Hsiao wrote.

Czech Military Intelligence spokesman said Chinese diplomats in Prague had taken actions that violated diplomatic rules.