Czech Speaker Tells Parliament, ‘I Am Taiwanese,’ Riling China

The head of the Czech Senate declared himself to be Taiwanese in a speech at Taiwan’s parliament on Tuesday, imitating late U.S. President John F. Kennedy’s speech in defiance of communism in Berlin in 1963, further riling Beijing.

China, which claims democratic Taiwan as its own territory, has threatened to make Czech Senate Speaker Milos Vystrcil pay a “heavy price” for visiting the island. The Czech Republic, like most countries, has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

Addressing Taiwan’s parliament, Vystrcil, who is leading a delegation of about 90 politicians and business executives, said Kennedy’s declaration that he was a Berliner was an important message for freedom and against communism.

“Please let me also express in person my support to Taiwan and the ultimate value of freedom and conclude today’s speech … with perhaps a more humble, but equally strong statement: ‘I am a Taiwanese,'” Vystrcil said, receiving a standing ovation.

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Vystrcil was openly supporting separatism and interfering in China’s internal affairs.

“China strongly condemns this,” Hua told reporters.

Kennedy’s “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech in 1963, telling the frightened people of West Berlin who were surrounded on all sides by Communist East Berlin that he was also a Berliner, is an address often called Kennedy’s best.

Vystrcil has said his Taiwan visit underscores the “values-based” foreign policy put in place by late President Vaclav Havel, an anticommunist dissident.

While the Czech government has not supported his visit, it has been upset by China’s strong condemnation and has summoned the Chinese ambassador. Beijing on Monday also summoned the Czech ambassador for a telling-off.

Czech President Milos Zeman has sought closer business and political ties with China since taking office in 2013, but his efforts have been hit by failed investment plans and Czech wavering about allowing China’s Huawei Technologies to play a role in developing next-generation telecoms networks.