The Czech capital, Prague, on Monday signed a partnership agreement with the capital of Taiwan, Taipei – three months after canceling a similar deal with Beijing and angering the Chinese government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The disagreement over Beijing began after the Chinese insisted on having a clause in the deal stating that Prague supports the one-China principle, which does not recognize Taiwan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In reaction to Prague’s decision to ink a deal with Taipei, China canceled the tours of several Prague classical music ensembles and orchestras.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taiwan split from mainland China amid a civil war in 1949, but Beijing considers the self-ruled island part of its territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While Prague authorities have resisted the one-China principle, the Czech government recognizes it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The deal between Prague and Taipei was signed by the mayors of the two cities, Zdenek Hrib and Ko Wen-je.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hrib said the cities share \u201cthe democratic values, the respect to basic human rights and cultural freedoms” and therefore can inspire each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said the deal focuses on economic, trade and cultural cooperation but not on politics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The deal is accompanied by agreements for cooperation between the Prague and Taipei zoos as well as in tourism and information technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Credit: AP<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Czech capital, Prague, on Monday signed a partnership agreement with the capital of Taiwan, Taipei – three months after canceling a similar deal with Beijing and angering the Chinese government. The disagreement over Beijing began after the Chinese insisted on having a clause in the deal stating that Prague supports the one-China principle, which […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1938,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n