Czech military intelligence says that the idea was simply to crash into the vehicle carrying new ROC vice president, Hsiao Bi-khim, while she was visiting Prague in March 2024—to intimidate her, not kill her. This would be done via a “demonstrative kinetic action” (Newsweek, June 27, 2025).
But how kinetic? Car crashes of any severity can’t necessarily be precisely calibrated, and simply bumping into Hsiao’s vehicle would not have served the alleged purpose. In any case, according to Petr Bartovský, director of Czech military intelligence, the mission never went beyond the planning stage. Perhaps because no good opportunity arose, perhaps because the Chinese changed their minds.
However, a Chinese diplomat ran a red light in central Prague while trying to maintain surveillance of the Taiwanese delegation.
Military intelligence spokesperson Jan Pejšek said China’s actions were bordering on endangering Hsiao and that Chinese officials had been “gathering information about her schedule, and attempting to document her meetings with prominent figures from the Czech political and public spheres.”
The vice president was not considered to be in real danger, however, as Czech security forces were present and ready to intervene if necessary, per the report.
Czech Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mariana Wernerová declined to provide details, citing the sensitivity of the case, but confirmed the ministry had communicated with Beijing about the events.
Taiwan Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo condemned China’s actions, thanked Czech authorities and said Taiwanese security was aware of the intelligence at the time, Focus Taiwan reported.
Why we’re hearing about all this only now, more than a year later, is unclear.
Bartovský “characterized the attempted interference as ‘unprecedented’ for Chinese operations in Europe, marking a dangerous precedent for diplomatic norms and foreign sovereignty.”
Hsaio (shown above) says: “The CCP’s unlawful activities will NOT intimidate me from voicing Taiwan’s interests in the international community.”
The response of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, as delivered by spokesman Guo Jiakun: Don’t be manipulated by the “malicious hype” of Taiwan separatists. Also, Chinese diplomatic personnel always obey the laws of host countries. Also, the Czechs should never have permitted a visit from a “Taiwan independence hardliner” like Hsiao to begin with; doing so “grossly interfered in China’s internal affairs.”
All this baloney is standard, but the first assertion is a bit odd.
The Czechs are the ones who gathered and reported the intelligence about the unrealized plot against Vice President Hsiao. So, on the assumption that the Czech intelligence is false, it’s only Czech “malicious hype” that Guo Jiakun should be wagging his finger at, not also Taiwan independence separatist hardliner “malicious hype.” The Taiwan independence separatist hardliner side can be accused only of malicious credulity. Perhaps a flash card or two is missing from Guo’s propaganda pack.
