Czech Senate President Miloš Vystrčil’s visit to Taiwan is drawing increasing attention international onlookers as Beijing persists in threatening retaliation for the trip.
Following a conference discussing China’s typical diplomatic methodology of “Sticks and Carrots“, MapInfluenCE’s Czech analysts Filip Šebok and Ivana Karásková provided extended commentary on these tactics for a global audience on Deutsche Welle’s weekly Inside Europe podcast.
Karásková commented:
“In terms of economic relationship, there is really not so much [China can do]. Even if China retaliates with everything they have…it will have an impact of 1% of GDP, not more… Of course, our ambassador to Beijing is going to have a tough time…That is probably the real outcome of all this showing of teeth from Beijing.”
Ivana Karaskova on DW
Adding to the discussion, Šebok provided a historical context for Sino-Czech diplomatic relations and the traditional “troublemaker” status of the Czech nation.
“What we see now is not really something new, but getting back to what was common before…China built some strong political links with the elites, with the president and the government, but this was not across the board… Issues like Taiwan, Tibet, human rights, are still very much important for many people in the Czech Republic.
Filip Sebok on DW
DW reporter Rob Cameron likened his analysis of public opinion as consistent with the foreign policy ideology furthered by the late president Václav Havel.
To hear the full discussion of the week’s European issues, click here. The discussion of Vystrčil begins at 18 minutes and 22 seconds.
