Tsai Ing-wen, former president of Taiwan, is set to visit the Czech Republic this month, signaling strengthening ties between Taiwan and Eastern Europe. This diplomatic move comes as Taiwan, the world's 21st-largest economy by nominal GDP, seeks to expand its international connections amid ongoing tensions with China.
The visit, scheduled for October 2024, will include Tsai's participation in Forum 2000, a conference founded to promote democratic values and the legacy of Václav Havel. The event, taking place from October 13-15 in Prague, provides a platform for global discussions on democracy and human rights.
During her stay, Tsai is expected to meet with senior Czech and European politicians, further solidifying Taiwan's relationships in the region. This diplomatic engagement is particularly significant given that Taiwan, with a population of 23.5 million, maintains official diplomatic ties with only 13 countries as of 2024.
The Czech Republic, a landlocked country in Central Europe with a population of approximately 10.7 million, is a member of both the European Union and NATO. While it does not have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the two entities have been moving closer in recent years.
Tsai's visit comes five months after she stepped down as Taiwan's president in May 2024, following the election of Lai Ching-te in January of the same year. Both Tsai and Lai are members of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), one of Taiwan's two major political parties.
The trip is likely to draw criticism from China, which considers Taiwan a part of its territory under the "One China" policy. Beijing has consistently labeled Tsai and the DPP as "separatists" for their refusal to acknowledge this stance. Taiwan's government, led by the DPP, maintains that only the island's 23.5 million residents have the right to determine their future.
China's opposition to such diplomatic engagements has been demonstrated through military exercises in the Taiwan Strait, a 180-kilometer-wide waterway separating Taiwan and mainland China. In 2022 and 2023, Beijing staged war games around Taiwan in response to high-profile visits by U.S. officials to the island.
"Taiwan's ties with the Czech Republic and Europe are getting closer and closer in recent years, especially in global geopolitics. Therefore, for a former president who has just left her role, the visit is particularly meaningful."
It's worth noting that Taiwan's significance extends beyond geopolitics. The island is the world's largest producer of semiconductors, with its industry accounting for over 60% of the global market. This economic prowess adds weight to Taiwan's international engagements.
In contrast to the DPP's approach, the Kuomintang (KMT), currently Taiwan's largest opposition party, advocates for closer ties with China. Ma Ying-jeou, Tsai's predecessor from the KMT, has met with Chinese President Xi Jinping twice – once in Singapore in late 2015 and again in Beijing in early 2023.
As Taiwan navigates its complex international position, Tsai's upcoming visit to the Czech Republic represents a continuation of her efforts to strengthen Taiwan's global partnerships. This diplomatic initiative aligns with the island's strategy to maintain its de facto independence while fostering international support in the face of China's persistent claims over its sovereignty.