Pekarová Adamová: Taiwan situation could soon echo that in Ukraine
Ties between Czechia and Taiwan have been significantly strengthened over the past several years. The Central European state has arguably become one of the continent’s pioneers in expanding relations with Taiwan, despite threats from Beijing. This month will see the largest Czech delegation yet travel to Taipei. It will be led by the speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová. She spoke to Radio Prague International about its significance.
“My delegation consists of various representatives, not just parliamentarians, meaning my colleagues from the ranks of the deputies in the lower-house, but also entrepreneurs and people from the business sphere in general.
“I think that both societies are based around common values such as respect for human rights, freedom and democracy.”
“The reason that we are visiting Taiwan is because we want to strengthen the ties between our two countries. Czechia and Taiwan have much in common. I think that both societies are based around common values such as respect for human rights, freedom and democracy.
“At the same time we are cooperating on the business level because Taiwanese investments in Czechia are very important for us and we would like to continue our cooperation.”
China, through its embassy here in Czechia, issued a diplomatic protest against your planned visit, stating that it it’s a bad decision and calling on you to cancel it. You refused. Aren’t you a little worried about Chinese fighter jets flying around when you are on your plane to Taipei, as happened to US House speaker Nancy Pelosi?
“Not really. I think that this was expected by all of us. We all knew before that this is something that is very important to China. Namely, to show their attitude towards Taiwan.
“At the same time however, we have our own foreign policy. I want to stress that. Czechia will never follow the policies of other countries. We will only follow our own.
“And our foreign policy consists of many parts, including that we want to cooperate with other democratic countries. Taiwan is democratic and we have common interests, so this is something that I don’t really care about.”
Remind me, why is it beneficial for Czechia to strengthen relations with Taiwan at the risk of antagonising China?
“We have many investments in Czechia that are from Taiwanese companies and entrepreneurs. Taiwan is offering their know-how when it comes to semi-conductors, or chips, which are very important for our industry. We could see the damage that the lack of them could cause to our companies because we very much rely on the automotive industry and so on. So this is certainly something that we see as one of our priorities.
“However, at the same time, I would also be happy to continue with our cooperation in the realms of research and higher education, whose representatives are also part of our delegation. We can have many students in Taiwan. They can go there from our universities through the help of scholarships. We need this cooperation and sharing of know-how when it comes to high tech technologies, not just semi-conductors but also IT, AI and so on.”
It could perhaps be said that Czechia has been more brazen in seeking to expand its diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Obviously, your visit is on a bilateral level. However, I was wondering whether there are any efforts on the part of Czechia to push the EU’s foreign policy closer towards Taiwan?
“I would be very happy if other countries, as well as our partners and allies in the EU, followed the example that Czechia is now setting. Our delegation follows up on the visit of Senate speaker Miloš Vystrčil and, as you said, we are among the leaders of establishing this relationship and are very happy about the kind of relationship that we have.
“I know about Lithuania, another EU member state, is also very active in these ties. At the same time I know that some of our partners, Western countries included, are not so happy about sending such strong messages towards China. But I would like to encourage them.
“Czechia will never follow the policies of other countries. We will only follow our own.”
“I think that we can compare it with the situation in Ukraine. When you have a, let’s say, ‘superpower’ – they see themselves as a superpower, but I would never name them like that – and both China and Russia see themselves as superpowers, who have their own goals and are not democratic countries, we should at the same time be aware of their influence and show our strength and the values that we are based on.
“When it comes to Ukraine, we showed that we stand shoulder to shoulder with our Ukrainian friends and are helping them fight the aggressor. However, the situation could become very similar in Taiwan soon. So for me it’s about principles, about the rule of law, about human rights, freedom and democracy as well.”
Why scholarships are important for expanding Czech-Taiwanese business ties
If we move on to the business side of your visit, you already referred there to the 2020 visit to Taiwan by Czech Senate speaker Milos Vystrčil who led his own delegation. Your entourage is made up of a hundred Czech businesspeople and at least 40 Czech companies. What areas of economic cooperation are you especially looking to expand? I understand it’s not all just about chips.
“Taiwan is offering their know-how when it comes to semi-conductors, or chips, which are very important for our industry.”
“Of course not, but I do have to say that many of these companies are cooperating together with universities in Brno and Prague in order to be able to develop these high tech technologies and cooperate with Taiwanese companies.
“That’s why we are opening a special hub in Taiwan – the Czech Hub will both serve our country’s companies and entrepreneurs as well as Taiwanese investors. They will be able to meet and exchange ideas at this venue in order to be able to build up cooperation.
“Other companies and entrepreneurs are focusing for example on IT and other high tech technologies, not just chips. For example, there is a company focusing on the cutting edge of optics production. These are also close to the semiconductor industry and so on. It’s a wide range of industries and business entrepreneurs.”
And this hub will operate for the long-term?
“I know that some of our partners, Western countries included, are not so happy about sending such strong messages towards China. But I would like to encourage them.”
“Yes. It will operate for the long-term, not just during my visit. It’s a lasting project.”
I notice that you often mention the topic of cooperation between universities on the student level. More than a year ago a Taiwanese delegation travelled to Prague and discussed the possibility of cooperating with Czechia in its chip manufacturing. Nothing seems to have come of that until now and, as far as I am aware, one of the reasons behind that is because Czechia doesn’t have a sufficient expertly trained workforce. So is that what you also trying to fix through these student exchanges?
“Exactly. This is one of the challenges that we are facing right now, because these industries are very consuming when it comes to human capital. I think that this is something that can be developed through our close cooperation too, especially since there are differences between Czech and Taiwanese universities.
“In Czechia it is quite complicated for a student to attend a three-year-long scholarship abroad. That’s why we would like to cooperate on this micro-level and discuss all of the problems that are connected with that. For example, in terms of how we can change all of these programmes in order to be more suited to the situation at Czech universities.
“We can have many students in Taiwan. They can go there from our universities through the help of scholarships.”
“I will be accompanied by many university representatives as well as Jana Havlíková, who is working on this on the level of the government. All of these members of the delegation have many meetings and visits scheduled within the associated programme that can help with establishing this exchange.”
Aside from the opening ceremony of the Czech Hub in Taipei, your visit will also see the first Czech-Taiwanese Hackathon and the opening of a PopUP Store for Czech brands on March 26th. It is set to be located in one of the most visited shopping districts in the Taiwanese capital. What would you recommend locals try out when it comes to Czech products?
“I have no detailed information about that yet. Perhaps you have more detailed information than I do in this respect.”
Well, perhaps there is some product that you would especially like to market to the Taiwanese population.
“I know that we are famous in other countries for many of our products and our design too. I am a fan of Czech design and I would recommend that.
“We are also planning to open an exhibition of photos and posters of Václav Havel because the Václav Havel Library in Prague is trying to attract visitors from Taiwan to come to Prague as tourists.
“That is also a part of our programme that we would like to discuss with our political counterparts from Taiwan as well as with other entrepreneurs – the setting up of a direct flight between Taipei and Prague.”
Direct flight between Prague and Taipei
Indeed, the setting up of that direct line has been several years in the making and not much has moved forward. The coronavirus pandemic was blamed for that in the past. Could you give us any fresh details on that, such as what airline it would be, how frequently it would fly, etc.?
“It is very important for us that our two nations have common interests and much in common in general.
“We will try to bring a major exhibition from Taiwan to Prague…It about history too, the history of both countries, because it concerns their historical treasures.”
“Now that the coronavirus pandemic is over, I think that this is a great challenge for us to establish this direct flight connection that tourists can benefit from. It could be beneficial for both sides to improve our contacts in this field.
“There are many associated economic aspects, but I would be very happy if there ends up being a direct flight between our two countries. I can’t say right now if it’s coming soon. However, as far as I have been informed, this is an important topic not just for the Czech side.”
I do have to press you. Surely there must be some proposals from the Czech side regarding the details of such a direct line. Tell me at least what you are going to go into these meetings with?
“I think it’s not fair to tell this to the media first before the meeting. I would like to tell our Taiwanese partners first and then inform.”
Aside from Taiwan you will also be visiting, with a smaller delegation, the Republic of Korea. What do you seek to achieve there?
“Our programme in Korea of course includes many meetings with politicians, including the speaker of the parliament and the prime minister. We will discuss our economic and political ties which are growing and strengthening year by year.
“There are of course many other aspects and I will of course be accompanied also by a delegation of entrepreneurs and businesspeople in Seoul as well.”
Prague’s National Museum could host major Taiwan exhibition
Is there something else related to your trip that you would especially like to mention?
“I think it’s very important that a part of my programme in Taiwan focuses on our cultural exchange. That’s why the director of the National Museum in Prague is coming with me.
“We will try to bring a major exhibition from Taiwan to Prague. We will do our best to fulfil this goal within the coming months. I would be very happy to meet with you again once that is set up because I would very much like to invite visitors to this exhibition.”
I have heard about that exhibition, but found little information about what exactly it would focus on. Is that something that is also being kept away from the media spotlight?
“I think that it’s very important because it is quite sensitive not just for Taiwan but in relation to China too.
“As you may know, there are some struggles between Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China and I am quite aware that our Taiwanese colleagues are doing their best to keep it not secret, but under the radar, so to say.”
Well I would deduce from that it is going to touch on a sensitive topic related to these two countries, meaning perhaps their history or current relations?
“It about history too, the history of both countries, because it concerns their historical treasures.”
