Czech media outlet iROZHLAS.cz reported that during Taiwanese Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim's visit to Prague last March, personnel from the Chinese Embassy in the Czech Republic launched an intelligence operation to track her and even allegedly prepared for physical confrontation and intimidation. The report has been confirmed by Czech military intelligence and reported to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This operation, which is said to violate the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, is extremely rare in European diplomatic settings.
Hsiao arrived in Prague on March 18, 2024, for a three-day visit, during which she met with Senate President Miloš Vystrčil and other dignitaries. Reports indicate that China had already deployed three diplomats from the Military and Air Force Attaché Offices of the Chinese Embassy in the Czech Republic to monitor her before her arrival.
Jan Pejšek, a spokesman for the Czech Military Intelligence Service, stated that the operation included "nearly threatening" tracking, the collection of travel information, and filming of her meetings with Czech dignitaries. Sources revealed that the Chinese side even considered staging a "demonstration-style action," such as deliberately colliding with the Vice President's car, but fortunately, this was not carried out.
During the visit, a suspected incident occurred: a Chinese diplomat ran a red light in central Prague and followed the Vice President's motorcade. This incident is believed to be part of an intelligence operation. Czech security services are closely monitoring the entire operation and have stated that they will intervene immediately if the situation escalates.
When asked whether it had received intelligence reports and whether it had expelled the diplomats involved, the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated only that it had expressed its position on diplomatic actions to China, without disclosing any specific actions. Reports indicate that the Ministry summoned the Chinese ambassador to express its concerns, but did not expel them.
Senate President Vystrcil called the incident "extremely inappropriate" and said the Czech Republic should respond firmly as a sovereign state. He noted, "We live in a more dangerous world than ever before, and the government should respond to such provocations prudently but decisively."
