Fact Check: Czech intelligence confirmed Chinese diplomats' unlawful activities targeting Hsiao Bi-khim.

Fact Check: Czech Intelligence Confirmed Chinese Diplomats' Unlawful Activities Targeting Hsiao Bi-khim

What We Know

Recent reports from Czech military intelligence have confirmed that Chinese diplomats and intelligence officers plotted a "demonstrative kinetic action" targeting Taiwan's Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim during her official visit to Prague in March 2024. This term is understood to imply staging a car crash as a form of intimidation (Irozhlas, The Guardian). During her visit, a driver, later identified as a Chinese diplomat, was stopped by police for closely following Hsiao's convoy, which was initially perceived as a reckless traffic violation (Reuters, Indian Express).

Czech military intelligence officials, including director Petr Bartovský, reported that this incident was part of a broader plan orchestrated from the Chinese embassy in Prague. The intelligence agency indicated that the plot did not advance beyond the planning phase but constituted a serious breach of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations (Irozhlas, Mint). Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council condemned the actions as a "serious threat" to Hsiao's safety and demanded an explanation and apology from China (The Guardian, Indian Express).

Analysis

The claim that Czech intelligence confirmed unlawful activities by Chinese diplomats targeting Hsiao Bi-khim is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The reports from Czech military intelligence are corroborated by statements from officials and local media, which detail the planning of a staged car crash as a means of intimidation (Irozhlas, Mint).

The reliability of these sources is bolstered by the involvement of official government entities, such as the Czech military intelligence service, which has a mandate to investigate and report on national security threats. Furthermore, the statements from Hsiao Bi-khim herself, asserting her defiance against intimidation, lend additional credibility to the narrative (Indian Express, The Guardian).

Critically, the response from the Chinese foreign ministry, which denied any wrongdoing and labeled Hsiao as a "diehard Taiwan independence separatist," reflects the ongoing geopolitical tensions between China and Taiwan, as well as China's attempts to manage its diplomatic image (Irozhlas, Mint). This context suggests that while the Chinese government may dispute the claims, the evidence presented by Czech intelligence appears robust and credible.

Conclusion

The claim that Czech intelligence confirmed Chinese diplomats' unlawful activities targeting Hsiao Bi-khim is True. The evidence from multiple credible sources, including official statements from Czech military intelligence and corroborating reports from reputable news outlets, supports the assertion that there was a planned intimidation effort involving Chinese diplomats during Hsiao's visit to Prague.

Fact Check: Czech intelligence confirmed Chinese diplomats' unlawful activities targeting Hsiao Bi-khim.