Czech Senate President Miloš Vystrčil said Taiwan was an “inspiration” and urged Taiwanese not to give up defending their freedom and democracy. He also said democratic countries must stand together against authoritarian pressure.

“The message I want to convey to the people of Taiwan is: Don’t give up. Protect your freedom and democracy. You are not alone. We are with you,” Vystrčil said.

The Czech senate president made the remarks during an interview with Radio Taiwan International (Rti) in Taipei on Tuesday, June 2.

Vystrčil said Taiwan-Czech relations did not begin with his last visit to Taiwan in 2020, when he addressed the legislature and emphasized solidarity by speaking in Chinese the words: “I am Taiwanese.”

“I first want to emphasize that Taiwan-Czech relations already have a history of more than 30 years,” he said, speaking through an interpreter. Bilateral cooperation has developed further in recent years, Vystrčil continued, citing direct flights between Prague and Taipei, university cooperation programs, scientific research and student scholarships.

Values are also a central part of the Taiwan-Czech relationship, he emphasized.

“The message I want to convey to everyone is that democratic countries must unite,” he said.

He said Taiwan’s efforts to resist pressure were an inspiration, referring to China’s attempts to isolate Taiwan in the international community. “I hope it is also an inspiration and encouragement to the whole world.”

Asked about concerns that high-level visits to Taiwan could affect Czech business interests in China, Vystrčil said Czechia should develop mutually beneficial relations with many countries, including Taiwan and China. But he emphasized that such relations must be based on equality.

Vystrčil said China is a large country, but relations should not be based on preconditions. If Beijing were to cut off economic and trade cooperation because of his Taiwan visit, he said, Czechia could not accept that because it would make the country a “lackey.”

He also said he was optimistic about the future of Taiwan-Czech economic ties, pointing to the business delegation accompanying him on the visit.

Asked whether the trip could produce specific commercial results, Vystrčil emphasized that business agreements often take time. Talks on direct flights between Prague and Taipei began in 2020 and took about two years to be realized, while major Taiwanese investments in Czechia also took about two to four years to complete, he said.

On Taiwan’s international participation, Vystrčil said he was proud that the Czech Parliament passes resolutions every year supporting Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations.

He said Taiwan’s absence from the World Health Organization during the COVID-19 pandemic was “a very big mistake.” Excluding Taiwan from Interpol also made no sense because countries must cooperate on crime, he added.

Democracies should prevent any distortion of U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758, Vystrčil said, adding that no country should be allowed to change the status quo. Taiwan currently has its own president, its own government and its own legislature, he said.

Czechia’s current Prime Minister, Andrej Babiš, has criticized the trip, underscoring a divide between Vystrčil’s Senate-backed Taiwan visit and the Czech government’s stated preference for more pragmatic relations with China. Vystrčil said Czech senators had supported his Taiwan visits and the further development of Czech-Taiwan relations in both 2020 and 2026.

The senate president arrived in Taiwan early Monday with a delegation of Czech business, university and cultural representatives. Prior to the interview with Rti, Vystrčil met with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) where he was formally recognized for his long-standing support of Taiwan, contributions to Taiwan-Czech relations and defense of global democracy.