Former Taiwan president Tsai to make sensitive visit to Prague
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Ms Tsai Ing-wen, who stepped down in May, will visit Prague and deliver a speech at Forum 2000, which begins on Oct 13.
ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG
TAIPEI - Former Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen will visit the Czech Republic in October, Taiwan’s presidential office said on Oct 7, a sensitive visit for a senior politician who Beijing has repeatedly denounced as a “separatist”.
The Czech Republic, like most countries, has no official diplomatic ties with Chinese-claimed Taiwan, but the two sides have moved closer as Beijing ratchets up military threats against the island
Ms Tsai, who stepped down in May, will visit Prague and deliver a speech at Forum 2000, which begins on Oct 13, said the three sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, given the sensitivity of the matter.
While in the Czech Republic, Ms Tsai is set to meet senior Czech and other European politicians, the sources said.
“Taiwan’s ties with the Czech Republic and Europe are getting closer and closer in recent years, especially in global geopolitics,” one of the sources with direct knowledge of Ms Tsai’s trip said.
“Therefore, for a former president who has just left her role, the visit is particularly meaningful,” the source added.
Ms Tsai’s office said: “When there is confirmed news, we will officially explain it to you.”
Another source, who has direct knowledge of the trip, said the upcoming trip is sensitive and requires “being more cautious with safety” due to concerns of Chinese espionage and harassment.
Taiwan’s presidential office said President Lai Ching-te “fully supported” Ms Tsai’s visit to European countries including the Czech Republic on Oct 12 and that he hopes to continue to deepen relations between Taiwan and Europe.
“Former president Tsai is deeply trusted internationally by democratic allies. As a former president, she represents Taiwan internationally and is Taiwan’s best spokesperson,” Mr Lai was quoted as saying.
China’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Forum 2000, which will hold its summit in Prague from Oct 13 to 15, also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
China staged two rounds of war games around Taiwan during Ms Tsai’s second term in office – in 2022 after then US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei, and in 2023 after Ms Tsai returned from a visit to the United States where she met Mrs Pelosi’s successor Kevin McCarthy.
Ms Tsai, who has a doctorate from the London School of Economics, is also due to visit two other European countries but details have not been finalised, the sources said.
Two diplomatic sources told Reuters that Ms Tsai is planning to visit France and Belgium during the same trip to Europe.
In January 2023, Ms Tsai held a call with Czech President-elect Petr Pavel, a diplomatic coup for Taiwan that angered China.
Ms Tsai’s vice-president Mr Lai won an election in January
As a senior statesperson, she remains a senior and influential member of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
China labels Mr Lai and his party as “separatists” who refuse to recognise Beijing’s position that democratically governed Taiwan is a part of China.
Mr Lai, Ms Tsai and the DPP reject Beijing’s sovereignty claims, saying only Taiwan’s people can decide their future.
Ms Tsai’s predecessor Ma Ying-jeou, from what is currently Taiwan’s largest opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), frequently makes overseas trips, though without drawing Beijing’s ire.
Mr Ma has met Chinese President Xi Jinping twice. The first was an historic summit in Singapore in late 2015 just before Mr Ma left office, and the second was earlier in 2024 in Beijing.
The KMT advocates closer ties with China but strongly denies being pro-Beijing. REUTERS
