Taiwanese, Chinese foreign ministers visiting Europe at the same time

The Taiwanese and Chinese foreign ministers are both visiting Europe at the same time this week, a uncommon alignment of schedules successful the same location fixed Beijing's efforts to halt Taipei from having immoderate signifier of foreign diplomatic engagements.

China views democratically governed Taiwan arsenic its ain territory, saying it is a Chinese province with nary close to state-to-state ties, a presumption the authorities successful Taipei powerfully rejects and has pushed backmost against.

Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung arrived successful Prague connected Thursday, attending an lawsuit astatine the Czech National Museum which is hosting an accumulation of imperial Chinese artefacts from Taiwan's National Palace Museum.

The Taiwanese museum said successful a connection that besides attending the opening of the accumulation with Lin was Czech Senate talker Milos Vystrcil, who visited Taiwan successful 2020, stoking Beijing's anger.

The Czech foreign ministry declined to comment.

The Czech Republic, which similar astir countries lone formally recognizes Beijing and not Taipei, has grown progressively adjacent to Taiwan, seeing parallels betwixt the threat Europe faces from Russia and the menace the land faces from China.

Taiwan's foreign ministry said Lin's travel to Europe was to beforehand the Taiwan Culture in Europe Year - a bid of Taiwanese cultural events successful the continent - "as a span connecting European and Taiwanese values, portion fostering exchanges and interactions with European partners".

It did not accidental which different countries helium mightiness visit.

China's foreign ministry did not instantly respond to a petition for comment.

Separately, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi starts a three-nation sojourn to Europe on Friday. He volition beryllium going to Austria, Slovenia and Poland.