/TAIWAN: Pavel's Visit To Taiwan Not An Option Now

Czechia's President-elect Petr Pavel is not currently planning to visit Taiwan, Lidovky reported citing his aide. Separately, Pavel told Hospodarske Noviny that he is not currently planning a trip to mainland China.

• The official told Lidovky.cz that "if the President of Taiwan or the Tibetan Dalai Lama is in the Czech Republic, they will have to meet the President informally at the Forum 2000 conference. But it certainly wouldn't be the case that they would come at the official invitation of the President. And it certainly wouldn't be the case that the President would travel somewhere."
• Separately, Pavel told Hospodarske Noviny in an interview that he will be "more moderate" after taking office than he is now. He told the newspaper that he is not currently planning to visit mainland China, but economic diplomacy is important.
• Pavel drew Beijing's ire in the first days after his election victory, as he held a phone call with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen. His presidency may affect the trajectory of Sino-Czech relations, due to Pavel's unequivocal pro-West orientation, compared with outgoing President Zeman's advocacy of closer ties with Beijing.