Published on January 24, 2020. Continuing from the previous chapter, this article presents Sankei Shimbun reporter Mina Mitsui’s detailed account of Prague Mayor Zdeněk Hřib’s remarks. Through the “One China” clause in the sister-city agreement with Beijing, the cancellation of the Prague Symphony Orchestra’s China tour, the agreement with Taipei, China’s failure to deliver promised investment, organ-harvesting allegations, and the Tibet issue, it shows how the Czech public’s view of China has changed.

January 24, 2020
President Zeman had promoted Chinese investment, but even though the Chinese side acquired a professional soccer team, it did not create jobs.
The chairman of a Chinese company who became an adviser to the president disappeared.
The following is a continuation of the previous chapter.
Ignoring the Request to Delete the “One China” Clause: Detailed Remarks by the Prague Mayor
The remarks by Zdeněk Hřib, mayor of Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, are as follows.
—Why did you terminate the sister-city agreement with Beijing?
To correct the mistake made by my predecessor as mayor.
The agreement was concluded in 2016.
Adherence to the “One China” principle was clearly written in Article 3, and I criticized it as an opposition member.
In the 2018 local election, the opposition became the ruling party, and in January 2019, as mayor, I made a request to Beijing.
That was because the city council had adopted a resolution calling for “renegotiation of the agreement.”
There is no such clause in agreements Beijing has concluded with other cities, such as London.
Beijing stopped even replying to inquiries by e-mail and letter, and unilaterally canceled the Prague Symphony Orchestra’s China tour.
It is childish bullying.
With the approval of the city council, I decided to terminate the agreement.
The city of Beijing also terminated it.
What is necessary for a sister-city relationship are three conditions: first, separation from politics; second, mutual respect; and third, mutual benefit.
Beijing meets none of them.
“One China” is a matter of national diplomacy.
They ignored our inquiries and did not observe the principle of mutual respect.
There is no meaning in a partnership in which we cannot even talk.
—How did the Czech government respond?
When I consulted the Foreign Ministry, the answer was, “Sister-city relations are something municipal government decides,” and it did not intervene.
President Zeman had promoted Chinese investment, but even though the Chinese side acquired a professional soccer team, it did not create jobs.
The chairman of a Chinese company who became an adviser to the president disappeared.
China is not a trustworthy partner.
The promise to lend pandas was not kept either.
—Why did you conclude a sister-city agreement with Taipei?
With Taipei, we will cooperate in technologies such as IT-based municipal administration.
Our population size is also close, and the policies we emphasize, such as housing and the environment, are the same.
The democratic election held in Taiwan this month showed the values we share.
In 2005, I stayed in Taiwan for two months for training in radiation medicine.
Last March, I visited Taipei for an international conference and met President Tsai Ing-wen and ministers.
We discussed a proposal to open a direct Prague–Taipei flight.
—What retaliation has there been from the Chinese side?
Shanghai terminated its friendship-city relationship with Prague.
We also have relations with Guangzhou, but they have said nothing.
The agreements with Shanghai and Guangzhou do not mention the “One China” principle.
Prague receives eight million tourists a year, of whom about 620,000 are from China.
Prague is currently facing the problem of having too many tourists, and a decrease may be good in terms of public safety and hygiene.
Tourism tax does not become city revenue, so it is unrelated.
—What about the confrontation between China and Taiwan in the Czech Republic?
Last spring, a Taiwanese representative was invited to an economic meeting of the Czech government.
The Chinese ambassador in Prague protested, saying, “Make him leave,” and the government had no choice but to comply.
At Prague City’s regular gathering with the diplomatic corps as well, the Chinese ambassador made the same protest, but when I replied, “He is my guest,” the ambassador left.
—How do you view China?
As a physician, I cannot forgive the allegations of China’s “organ harvesting.”
Concerns have also been expressed in the Czech Parliament and in the European Parliament of the European Union.
In the Czech Republic, there is a tradition of local governments raising the Tibetan flag.
This is to support Tibetan culture and the demand for self-determination.
Former President Havel, who was a leader of democratization, and the Dalai Lama were bound by a deep friendship, and his successors inherited that tradition.
Because the Czech people, too, have sought the right of self-determination since the time of the Habsburg Empire, their feelings are strong.
—What is the reaction of the Czech people?
Despite President Zeman’s approach toward China, the promises of Chinese investment were not realized, and the people’s view of China changed.
In 2018, the Czech intelligence authorities also warned of espionage activities through Chinese cyberattacks.
Interviewer: Mina Mitsui