Taiwan's vice-president refuses to be intimidated by China car crash plot claim

Taiwan’s vice-president Hsiao Bi Khim says she will not be intimidated by China after Czech military intelligence claimed Chinese diplomats and secret service followed her and planned to intimidate her physically when she visited Prague last year.

- JAN LOPATKA

Ms Hsiao visited the Czech Republic in early 2024. Prague does not have official diplomatic ties with Taiwan but has fostered warm relations with the island, which China views as its territory.

Czech media reported last year that a Chinese diplomat had run a red light when following Ms Hsiao’s car. Czech public radio news website irozhlas.cz said last Thursday that the Chinese officials had also planned to stage a demonstrative car crash.

“I had a great visit to Prague & thank the Czech authorities for their hospitality & ensuring my safety. The CCP’s unlawful activities will not intimidate me from voicing Taiwan’s interests in the international community,” Ms Hsiao said, in a social media post on Saturday, referring to the Chinese Communist Party.

In another X (Twitter) post, Ms Hsiao thanked global parliamentarians who had expressed solidarity against “violence and coercion”.

“Taiwan will not be isolated by intimidation,” Ms Hsiao said.

A Czech military intelligence spokesperson said Chinese diplomats in Prague had taken actions that violated diplomatic rules.