China announces severance of contacts with President Pavel after Dalai Lama visit

China is severing all contacts with Czech President Petr Pavel, who, in their view, harmed China's sovereignty and territorial integrity by visiting the Dalai Lama on July 27th. According to the Chinese Embassy in Prague, this was announced on Thursday by the spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Lin Jian.

"Regardless of repeated protests and strong opposition from China, Pavel went to India to meet with the Dalai Lama. This is in serious contradiction with the political commitment that the Czech government has made to the Chinese government,” said Mr. Lin. This move means that China will “cease all engagement” with President Pavel. The president’s visit to the Dalai Lama on the occasion of his 90th birthday was undertaken as a private individual, rather than as a representative of the Czech state.

Prague Castle has responded that, since there is currently no direct communication between Czechia and China at the presidential level, this is not a step that would change the current situation.