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Summary for: Czech government denies Senate speaker plane for Taiwan tripThe Czech government has decided not to provide a state aircraft for Senate Speaker Miloš Vystrčil’s planned visit to Taiwan, a move that has triggered sharp political criticism and revived debate over Prague’s approach to relations with China.
Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said the request for a military aircraft had been rejected because the trip could be seen as an official government endorsement. According to Czech media reports, the decision reflects the cabinet’s current foreign policy position toward Beijing.
China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and has repeatedly condemned official Czech contact with the island, which operates as a self-governing democracy.
Government rejects aircraft request
Vystrčil, who leads the Czech Senate and is a member of the opposition Civic Democrats (ODS), is expected to travel to Taiwan at the turn of May and June with a business delegation.
According to Babiš, the Senate speaker requested the use of a government plane for the trip. The prime minister said the cabinet declined the request to avoid signaling official state-level support for the visit.
“He is flying to Taiwan, and we decided not to approve the plane, because that would give it a government stamp of approval,” Babiš said, as quoted by Blesk. The Senate speaker can still travel on a commercial flight, the prime minister added.
The decision drew immediate criticism from opposition politicians, who accused Babiš of overstepping into parliamentary affairs. ODS deputy leader Martin Kupka said the move reflected what he described as excessive centralization of decision-making within the government.
“We no longer just have centrally planned gasoline and diesel prices. Now even foreign trips of top constitutional officials are being regulated directly from the prime minister’s office,” Kupka wrote on X.
He also criticized the refusal to support the delegation’s logistics, calling it “narrow-minded” given the presence of Czech business representatives and ongoing economic cooperation with Taiwan.
Long-running diplomatic sensitivities
Vystrčil’s planned visit comes against the backdrop of long-standing tensions between Prague and Beijing over official contact with Taiwan.
China has previously criticized Czech Senate activities related to Taiwan, including past parliamentary resolutions and delegations, describing them as interference in its internal affairs.
The Czech embassy in Beijing has also objected to official visits involving Taiwanese institutions, in line with China’s “One China” policy. Vystrčil’s first visit to Taiwan in 2020 remains one of the most high-profile Czech diplomatic moves in recent years.
The Czech government has refused to provide Senate Speaker Miloš Vystrčil with a state plane for his planned visit to Taiwan, with Prime Minister Andrej Babiš justifying the refusal by citing the government’s different foreign policy toward China. What do you think?
Despite warnings from China and criticism from then-president Miloš Zeman, Vystrčil led a large delegation of senators and business representatives to Taipei, where he delivered a speech emphasizing democratic values and international cooperation.
At the time, he said the trip reflected the need to prioritize principles over short-term economic considerations. The visit led to heightened diplomatic tensions with Beijing and a temporary freeze in some high-level contacts.
This year’s planned trip, scheduled for May 31 to June 4, is expected to include representatives from Czech industry and trade organizations, including the Czech Confederation of Industry and the Czech-Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce.
