Czech Intelligence Exposes China Plot to Intimidate Taiwan Vice President in Prague

Czech military intelligence revealed that Chinese agents operating out of the Beijing embassy in Prague planned a staged car crash targeting Taiwan’s Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim during her March 2024 visit, marking an unprecedented provocation by China in Europe. The plot, intended to intimidate Hsiao, did not advance beyond the planning stage but involved Chinese diplomats violating diplomatic norms, including running a red light while surveilling the Taiwanese delegation. Czech officials condemned the actions as bordering on endangerment and a breach of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, while China denied wrongdoing and accused the Czech Republic of interfering in its internal affairs. The incident reflects escalating tensions between China and Taiwan, with the Czech Republic maintaining warm relations with Taiwan despite lacking official diplomatic ties, further frustrating Beijing. Taiwan’s government strongly condemned China’s behavior as a serious threat to the Vice President's safety and reiterated its resolve to engage internationally. This episode underscores the ongoing geopolitical struggle over Taiwan's international presence amid China's insistence on its 'One China' policy.