Taiwan VP says will not be intimidated after Czech says China planned physical intimidation

Taiwan VP says will not be intimidated after Czech says China planned physical intimidation

Taiwan's Vice-President-elect Hsiao Bi-khim has expressed determination not to be intimidated following allegations that Chinese diplomats and secret service agents planned to physically intimidate her during her visit to Prague last year. The Czech Republic's military intelligence revealed that Chinese agents had planned to stage a demonstrative car crash to intimidate Hsiao, who visited Prague in March 2024 [3].

The Czech military intelligence reported that Chinese diplomats had also run a red light while following Hsiao's car, indicating a deliberate attempt to cause a disturbance. Prague, which does not have official diplomatic ties with Taiwan, has fostered warm relations with the democratically-governed island, which China views as its own territory.

Hsiao's visit to Prague last year was part of a broader effort to strengthen Taiwan's international presence and alliances. The Czech Republic's warm relations with Taiwan have drawn criticism from China, which has been increasingly assertive in its claims over the island.

The allegations of Chinese intimidation come at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, with the United States' recent military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites having significant implications for regional dynamics. The U.S. strikes, which involved precision strikes on Iranian uranium enrichment plants, have led China to reassess its perception of U.S. willingness to use military force, particularly regarding issues it views as vital to its national interest [2].

Analysts and officials have noted that the U.S. military action against Iran has shattered China's perception that Trump's second term would be more isolationist and less inclined to use military force in foreign conflicts. This shift in perception may have implications for Taiwan, where China has long sought to bring the island under communist control.

Regional experts are also weighing the impact of the redeployment of American military assets from the Indo-Pacific region to the Middle East on maintaining Washington's focus on China. The U.S. strikes on Iran have raised questions about whether China will reassess its air force and naval activities near Taiwan, and how it will adjust its foreign policy in light of the U.S. military action [2].

Hsiao's resolve not to be intimidated comes amid a broader context of increasing geopolitical tensions and shifting regional dynamics. The Czech Republic's allegations of Chinese intimidation underscore the complex and evolving nature of relations between Taiwan, China, and the broader international community.

References:
[1] https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/1lmx5ly/czechs_say_china_followed_planned_intimidation_of/
[2] https://www.newsmax.com/world/globaltalk/donald-trump-china-iran/2025/06/26/id/1216595/
[3] https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/06/28/asia-pacific/politics/czech-intelligence-china-intimidation-taiwan/