China furious after Czech president Pavel meets Dalai Lama, diplomatic clash unfolds

On August 12, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated at an official briefing that China is suspending all interactions with Czech President Petr Pavel due to his meeting with the 14th Dalai Lama in India.

According to Lin, Pavel’s visit to the Tibetan spiritual leader, who lives in exile in India, is a provocation and a serious breach of Czechia’s political commitments to China. The Chinese diplomat emphasized that such actions harm the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the People’s Republic of China.

In response, Beijing expressed strong protests to the Czech side and announced the suspension of all contacts with the Czech president.

Meanwhile, the Czech presidential office stated that the meeting was strictly private and had no official status.

For context, the Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 following a failed uprising and found refuge in India, where he established a government in exile. China does not recognize this government and considers the Dalai Lama a separatist.

The Dalai Lama himself stresses that his goal is to achieve greater autonomy for Tibet and preserve Tibetan culture and religion, despite China’s efforts to downplay the Tibetan issue in its foreign policy.

This incident marks another stage in escalating diplomatic tensions between China and Czechia. Earlier, in January 2023, Beijing expressed dissatisfaction over a phone call between Pavel and Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen.

These events reflect a growing strain in relations between the two countries, particularly concerning Taiwan and Tibet-related issues.

China’s position on the war in Ukraine

China officially declares a neutral stance in Russia’s war against Ukraine but continues active cooperation with Moscow. At the same time, some Chinese companies supply Russia with dual-use goods that can be used in weapons production.

For example, The Economist previously reported that China has become a key supplier to Russia’s war machine. It is suggested that Beijing may have provided lethal weapons to Moscow.

Meanwhile, Reuters reported that Chinese combat engines are being covertly shipped to Russia disguised as industrial refrigeration units to circumvent Western sanctions.