The China Bloom is Shedding its Dead Petals
"He [Chinese ambassador] demanded that I kick out the representative of Taiwan. I said, 'We do not kick out our guests'."
"Some people say that we should not be involved in foreign affairs. But what we have done is get rid of this 'One China' declaration, which dragged Prague into foreign affairs."
"When I was little, I had this book with very nice black-and-white photos. And the coolest animal there [in the Prague Zoo] was the pangolin."
Prague, Mayor Zdenek Hrib, Czech Republic
"The cancellation of the tour [Autumn China tour] meant for the orchestra [Prague Philharmonic Orchestra] an economic loss of several million Czech crowns."
"However, we consider as much more damaging the fact that culture has been subject to political pressure."
Radim Otepka, director, Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
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At the Prague Zoo, the planned panda pavilion will not proceed, after all. What national zoo after all, would not celebrate the loan of a panda from China? Crowds of people anywhere in the world turn up to view those lovable and rare animals. As a special concession to its special friends and in the interests of gaining closer cooperation in trade and the political sphere, China is pleased on occasion to extend the courtesy of such a loan. Prague was in line for such an honour. But 'was' is the operative here.
Taiwan is known to have played a key role in saving the endangered pangolin. A creature most fascinating that resembles a scaly anteater. Taiwan is home now to what is classified as the largest population of captive pangolins. The mayor of Taipei has been optimistic that his city can see its way clear to loaning out one of the animals that has been brought back from the edge of extinction, to a country that has defied China's demands of it that it refrain from recognizing Taiwan as a separate political entity from China.
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Prague and Beijing were "sister cities"; the Czech Republic gambling that ties with China might promise increased trade and investment. In 2016 Xi Jinping was welcomed to the Czech Republic on a state visit to meet with President Milos Zeman whose declaration that his country would become China's "gateway to Europe", no doubt endeared him to President Xi. Prior to the visit a sister-city agreement was signed between Prague and Beijing. That commitment included support for the "One China" policy.
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Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Czech Republic President
Milos Zeman, Pragu, 2016.
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Prague had visions of an increase of tourism from China, of cultural exchanges. And perhaps even the loan of a panda for its Zoo. The years passed, and not much in investment materialized. On the other hand, concern has arisen relating to espionage. Mr.Hrib's Pirate Party became the third-largest Parliamentary force with its anti-establishment agenda, challenging the foreign policy of Mr. Zeman and the transactional point of view of Prime Minister Andrej Babis.
The wording of the city's agreement with Beijing was in Mr. Hrib's sights. He traveled to Taiwan in March, having spent time there as a student. Months later Mayor Hrib made his intention to bring the language in the agreement of the "One China" policy to a vote in the City Council. Threats were issued by Chinese officials: The Prague Philharmonic would have to reject the mayor's intentions if it wanted to perform in China, despite the two years it had spent in preparation.
Czechs, according to Mayor Hrib, were reminded of their former Communist rulers, by China's political pressure and they liked it not one whit. Czech cybersecurity warned that Chinese tech and communications giant Huawei represented a potential national security threat, amidst concerns that China was attempting to influence Czech academic institutions.
This was worrying to the Czech President Zeman who write in a letter to Mr. Xi "that the Czech Republic, its government, fully respects the policy of One China". In response China growled that it would limit Chinese tourists permitted to visit the country. And it all began when Mayor Hrib's principled refusal to support the "One China" policy insisting Taiwan to be a part of China.
Sister cities no longer. Political strains beyond the point of resuscitation. One China support dissolved. Dissonance and Irreparable relations. Tch!
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| The Prague city council decision “is just one aspect of a much larger trend”, according to one analyst. Photo: EPA-EFE |
Labels: Beijing, China, Czech Republic, One China, Prague, Taiwan
posted by Pieface @ Tuesday, December 03, 2019
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