Chinese intimidation of Taiwan has entered a chilling new phase: bolder, more multifaceted and unconstrained by diplomatic norms. For years, Taiwan has weathered economic coercion, military threats, diplomatic isolation, political interference, espionage and disinformation, but the direct targeting of elected leaders abroad signals an alarming escalation in Beijing’s campaign of hostility.
Czech military intelligence recently uncovered a plot that reads like fiction, but is all too real. Chinese diplomats and civil secret service in Prague had planned to ram the motorcade of then-vice president-elect Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) and physically assault her during her visit to the Czech Republic in March last year.
Taiwanese officials have rightly labeled this as “transnational repression.” We should call it what it is: endangering the life of a democratically elected leader. Although Czech authorities thwarted the plot, the warning is clear: Beijing is willing to cross any line to threaten and silence Taiwanese leadership. This cannot be allowed to become the new normal. In a world that claims to be governed by a rules-based international order, this was nothing short of a planned political attack, one that must not be dismissed or normalized under the cover of the “one China” policy.
China’s cross-border harassment is not new. Its officials have long targeted Taiwanese diplomats and students abroad, as well as Hong Kong dissidents, sometimes violently. In 2020, Chinese diplomats disrupted Taiwan’s Double Ten National Day event in Fiji and physically assaulted Taiwanese staff. The Prague incident marks a new threshold: What was once intimidation is now premeditated violence. This is not diplomacy; it is state-sponsored coercion.
This is happening now because Beijing’s traditional tactics are faltering. Taiwan has grown more resilient, deepening its partnerships across Europe and Asia, and garnering broader international support. As diplomatic poaching yields diminishing returns, China is resorting to more extreme measures to intimidate Taiwanese leaders and deter others from engaging with Taipei. The strategy is plain: To keep Taiwan off the international stage and isolate it by any means necessary.
The international outrage to the Prague plot has been swift, but coverage alone is not enough. China’s actions are not merely Taiwan’s problem; they are a direct challenge to democratic norms and the global rules-based order. What happens to Taiwan today could happen to other liberal democracies tomorrow. A collective response is essential.
What can be done?
First, liberal democracies must speak with one voice. This was a violent threat against a democratically elected leader. The world must condemn it clearly and forcefully.
Second, there must be accountability. Chinese officials involved in such plots should face consequences, including the possibility of diplomatic expulsions. When red lines are crossed, there must be repercussions and a clear message that China is not immune to such illegal activities, not on foreign soil at least.
Third, democratic countries must strengthen security coordination concerning Taiwan. Although Taipei lacks formal diplomatic recognition, it maintains extensive unofficial relations worldwide. It is a key economic and technological partner to many, as well as a hub for advanced semiconductor manufacturing. Its leaders and officials deserve the same protection given to any visiting dignitary. Ensuring their safety is a duty and responsibility.
Fourth, there must be legal deterrents. In the US, the TAIPEI Act and the Taiwan Peace and Stability Act offer valuable models. Similar frameworks should be adopted in other countries to protect partners facing coercion and interference.
Fifth, countries must not back down from legitimate engagement with Taiwan. Beijing has no authority to dictate who may communicate with whom. The Czech Republic has demonstrated admirable resolve, from Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil’s visit to Taipei in 2020 to its warm welcome of Hsiao last year. These actions are more than mere gestures; they stand as powerful affirmations that democratic values cannot be silenced through intimidation and bullying.
If the world is serious about upholding a rules-based order, now is the time to draw firm boundaries and stand together in its defense.
“Taiwan will not be isolated by intimidation,” Hsiao said.
Indeed, Taiwan will neither be intimidated nor silenced. However, the international community must do its part: Support Taiwan’s right to exist, engage and remain secure. A stable Indo-Pacific region and a functioning international order are impossible if Taiwan is left vulnerable to violence, coercion and repression.
Chen Kuan-ting is a Democratic Progressive Party legislator and a member of the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee. Sana Hashmi is a fellow at the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation.
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