29-06-2025
Chinese agents plotted ramming attack on Taiwan vice-president in Europe
Chinese agents plotted to ram Taiwan 's vice president's car when she was in the Czech Republic last year, it has been alleged.
Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council [MAC], which oversees the country's China policy, claimed Hsiao Bi-khim's motorcade was followed, surveilled and nearly hit by another vehicle during a trip to Prague in March 2024.
The 53-year-old, who was then vice president-elect, has an American mother and is a member of the ruling centre-Left Democratic Progressive Party.
She vowed that the incident would not stop her from advocating for Taiwan's interests.
'I had a great visit to Prague and thank the Czech authorities for their hospitality and ensuring my safety,' Ms Hsiao said on Saturday.
She added: 'The CCP's [Chinese Communist Party] unlawful activities will NOT intimidate me from voicing Taiwan's interests in the international community.
'Taiwan will not be isolated by intimidation.'
Citing a Czech intelligence report, the MAC said China's embassy staff in Prague were behind the alleged ramming attempt.
Czech media reported last year that a Chinese diplomat had run a red light while following Ms Hsiao's car.
Taipei said on Friday that 'the Chinese Embassy in the Czech Republic followed, conducted surveillance on, and even attempted to ram the motorcade, seriously threatening the personal safety of Vice President Hsiao and her entourage'.
It added that the alleged incident exposed the Chinese Communist Party's 'violent nature' and lack of 'sincerity' during communications with Taiwan.
'Legal grey'
A Taiwanese security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it was a 'typical case' of China's 'transnational repression' against dissidents or critics of China.
' China uses legal grey areas to harass, threaten or oppress their targets,' they added.
The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, an international group that has challenged Beijing's human rights record, spoke out in support of Ms Hsiao.
In a statement signed by 51 lawmakers from nearly 30 countries, it expressed its backing for 'Taiwanese citizens who may be subject to coercion by the Chinese state while travelling abroad'.
Prague does not have official diplomatic ties with Taiwan, as not formally recognising the country is a requirement for any nation wanting diplomatic relations with Beijing.
However, it has strengthened its unofficial ties with the island in the face of mounting Chinese pressure.
Beijing's foreign ministry on Friday claimed that the Czech Republic had violated its political commitments to China by allowing Ms Hsiao to visit.
Branding her a die-hard 'Taiwan independence' activist, Guo Jiakun, Beijing's ministry spokesman, said Prague had violated the 'one-China principle'.
He added: 'Chinese diplomats always abide by the laws and regulations of host countries,' before urging other nations not to undermine relations with Beijing by allowing Taiwanese separatists to 'stir up troubles'.
Beijing continues to ramp up military pressure on Taiwan and hold large-scale exercises around the island in what many view as preparations for a blockade or invasion.
In May, Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, warned that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan 'could be imminent', claiming Beijing was preparing to use military force and upend the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific.
He called on US allies and partners in Asia to upgrade their defences and said Washington was 'reorienting toward deterring aggression by Communist China'.
As part of an ongoing campaign to isolate Taiwan, China has sought to stop the island making inroads on the international stage by courting its diplomatic allies and blocking its global forums.
This latest row comes after Mark Rutte, the Nato chief, warned world leaders last week that Russia could help China invade Taiwan and urged them to 'stand ready'.
He told a Nato summit press conference in Amsterdam that the 'Chinese will try anything with Taiwan', adding: 'No doubt he will call his junior partner, Mr Putin, and make sure that [he].. will keep [Europe] busy.'
The remarks came after Nato members agreed to increase their defence spending target to 5 per cent of GDP, in line with the demands of Donald Trump.
