China condemns phone call between Czech president-elect, Taiwanese leader

China has expressed strong protest and made a representation to the Czech authorities over a telephone conversation between the republic’s President-elect Petr Pavel and Taiwan’s leader Tsai Ing-wen, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing on Tuesday.

She castigated the phone talk as interference in China’s domestic affairs. "The Chinese side expressed dissatisfaction and strong protest and made a representation to the Czech side over this," Mao emphasized.

According to the Chinese diplomat, Beijing called on Prague to respect the 'one China' principle and its commitments to prevent bilateral relations from worsening.

On Monday, Czech president-elect Pavel held a telephone call with the head of the Taiwanese administration, Tsai Ing-wen. The Czech official assured her of his intentions to enhance partnership and said the two could hopefully meet in person in the future.

Taiwan has been governed by its local administration since 1949, but Beijing views it as a Chinese province as it urges foreign nations to observe the 'one China' policy.