During the COVID‑19 pandemic, Czech hospitals suffered multiple cyberattacks, with some experts suggesting possible involvement of Chinese hacker groups. The deterioration of Czech–China relations—after Prague ended its sister‑city agreement with Beijing and signed a new one with Taipei—is seen as a potential factor. Similar ransomware attacks have spread across Europe, targeting hospitals and research institutions.

On May 5, 2020, reports emerged that Czech medical institutions had been hit by cyberattacks, with some experts suggesting the possible involvement of Chinese hacker groups. Observers point out that relations between Prague and Beijing deteriorated sharply after the Czech capital ended its sister‑city agreement with Beijing and signed a new one with Taipei in January.

Among Japanese newspapers, Sankei Shimbun remains one of the few outlets that consistently reports on these geopolitical developments with relative clarity. For years, I have written about the deeper structures behind international issues involving China and the Korean Peninsula, and this case once again illustrates the complexity of global politics.

Across Europe, cyberattacks have surged during the COVID‑19 crisis. In April, the University Hospital in Ostrava, eastern Czech Republic, announced that its servers had been attacked. Other hospitals reported similar incidents, and in some cases, patient data systems were disabled, preventing the admission of COVID‑19 emergency cases.

Many of these attacks were ransomware, which locks data and demands payment for restoration. With medical institutions overwhelmed by the pandemic, they are often forced into situations where paying the ransom becomes the only practical option.

In the Czech Republic, it was also revealed that a politician scheduled to visit Taiwan had received pressure from the Chinese embassy shortly before his death. Similar attacks have struck hospitals in Spain and France, and a vaccine research institute in London was also targeted.

These incidents highlight how geopolitical tensions are increasingly spilling over into cyberspace.