Fact Check: "Chinese agents followed Taiwanese VP, endangering her safety during Prague visit."
What We Know
During her visit to Prague in March 2024, Taiwanese Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim was reportedly followed by Chinese agents, which has been confirmed by Czech military intelligence. The operation involved attempts to surveil her movements and potentially create a confrontation, marking a significant escalation in Chinese interference on European soil (source-2). According to Jan Pejšek, spokesperson for the Czech Military Intelligence Service, the operation included "physically following" Hsiao and gathering information about her schedule and meetings with Czech officials (source-4).
The Chinese embassy's involvement in this operation was highlighted as a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which governs diplomatic conduct (source-4). Reports indicated that a vehicle driven by a Chinese diplomat was involved in a traffic incident while following Hsiao's convoy, which was perceived as an attempt to intimidate her delegation (source-2).
Analysis
The claim that Chinese agents followed Taiwanese Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim during her visit to Prague is substantiated by multiple credible sources, including reports from Czech military intelligence and local media (source-2, source-4). The Czech government has acknowledged the operation as unprecedented and confirmed that it was aimed at gathering intelligence on Hsiao's activities, which aligns with China's broader pattern of aggressive tactics against Taiwanese officials abroad.
The reliability of the sources is high, as they include statements from official government representatives and military intelligence, which are typically subject to scrutiny and verification. The Czech Military Intelligence Service, in particular, has a vested interest in ensuring the accuracy of its assessments regarding national security and foreign interference (source-4). Furthermore, the involvement of a Chinese diplomat in a traffic incident while following Hsiao's convoy adds a layer of corroboration to the claims of endangerment (source-4).
While some sources may carry a degree of bias due to the geopolitical context, the convergence of reports from various outlets and the official confirmation from Czech authorities lend significant weight to the claim.
Conclusion
The claim that Chinese agents followed Taiwanese Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, endangering her safety during her visit to Prague, is True. The evidence from credible sources, including Czech military intelligence and local news reports, confirms that there was an organized effort by Chinese officials to surveil and potentially confront Hsiao, which constitutes a serious breach of diplomatic norms.
Sources
- China aimed to sabotage Taiwanese vice president's Czechia visit ...
- Chinese agents surveilled VP Hsiao Bi-khim in Prague: Czech officials
- Taiwan's vice president-elect followed by Chinese official in Prague
- Chinese Officials Allegedly Stalked Taiwan VP-Elect in Prague
- Chinese agents surveilled VP Hsiao during 2024 trip: Czech officials
