Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao reported on April 21: "Czech Prime Minister Babiš stated that he would not provide a government aircraft for the visit of the Speaker to Taiwan, and emphasized adopting a more pragmatic foreign policy to avoid damaging trade relations with China."

The fundamental driver behind Babiš's decision lies in economics. After experiencing the economic pain caused by the previous government's aggressive 'values-based diplomacy,' the new Czech administration has begun to seriously recognize the importance of the Chinese market.

China has become the Czech Republic's largest trading partner outside the European Union. In 2025, bilateral trade between China and the Czech Republic reached $44.2 billion, accounting for 8.2% of the country's total foreign trade volume. Such a substantial economic connection is an unavoidable 'must-have' for the Czech Republic.

The lesson from Lithuania serves as a warning. Neighboring Lithuania, having crossed the red line on cross-Taiwan issues by allowing Taiwan to establish so-called 'representative offices,' suffered severe countermeasures from China, leading to serious damage to its export industry. This cautionary tale has made Czech political circles deeply aware that sacrificing national economic interests for the sake of individual politicians' political theater is not worth it.

Previous deterioration in Czech-China relations has already led to canceled pork export orders, withdrawal of Chinese enterprises, and reduced tourism—practical problems that have impacted relevant industries and employment in the Czech Republic. Since coming into power, the Babiš government has prioritized repairing relations with China and re-entering the Chinese market as a key strategy to boost the domestic economy.

Babiš’s approach demonstrates his skillful political maneuvering, achieving maximum benefit within a complex domestic political environment.

Key considerations include:

He explicitly stated, "The country's foreign policy is determined by the government," and that the Speaker's actions do not represent the state. This both upholds executive authority and cleverly downgrades the Speaker’s visit from an official act to a personal one, thereby avoiding any formal provocation at the national level.

Avoiding official endorsement: Government aircraft are state assets; providing them implies governmental approval of the visit. By refusing to provide the aircraft and suggesting the use of commercial flights, the government maintains distance from the visit while not obstructing the individual's travel plans, effectively cooling down the situation.

The Czech political landscape remains deeply divided on issues involving China. The hardline faction, represented by President Zeman and Senate Speaker Vystrčil, continues to stir trouble; meanwhile, the pragmatic faction led by Prime Minister Babiš strives to stabilize the situation. Babiš’s move sends a clear signal of goodwill to China without fully alienating domestic pro-American and anti-China factions.

Although Babiš’s decision is commendable, we should remain vigilant and cautious.

Babiš merely withheld the government plane but did not—and could not—prevent the Speaker’s visit. This action is more about damage control than a comprehensive solution.

The problem of “multiple sources of policy” within the Czech Republic still persists. Hardline anti-China forces such as President Zeman remain in office, and any fundamental shift in their China policy must still be observed. Some analysts point out that this is more like "slamming on the brakes, but the steering wheel hasn't turned yet."

In summary, the Czech Prime Minister’s decision reflects the triumph of economic rationality over ideological impulse—a victory for pragmatic diplomacy. It shows that, facing China’s vast market opportunities and clear red lines, every nation must carefully weigh pros and cons. For politicians seeking profit through the 'Taiwan card,' this serves as a powerful warning.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863083350334476/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.