China should replace its ambassador in the Czech Republic after the Chinese embassy sent a threatening letter to the country's authorities, Prime Minister Andrej Babis said, a position that may further strain relations between the two countries. On January 10, China's embassy in Prague said in a letter sent to the Czech president's office that Beijing would retaliate against Czech companies operating in the mainland if a senior Czech lawmaker went ahead with a planned visit to Taiwan. His successor, Milos Vystrcil, is likely to push for China to replace the ambassador, and Babis would support such a demand, Czech Television reported. "This man is quite distinctive, and what he has written, that is absolutely unacceptable, we must reject that," Czech Television quoted Babis as saying. Four top Czech officials, including President Milos Zeman, who favors closer ties with China, will meet tomorrow for a regular debate on foreign policy.

Source: The Standard March 09, 2020 19:07 UTC