a positive development now that democratic nations are beginning to pay closer attention to China’s actions and realise that the CCP’s anti-democratic approach is increasingly encroaching on free and democratic nations worldwide.
In August, my counterpart in the Czech Senate, Milos Vystrcil, led a 90-strong delegation to Taiwan, undeterred by strong opposition and threats from China. Seventy legislators from a number of democratic countries, including France, Germany and the US, as well as members of the European Parliament, issued a joint statement staunchly supporting the visit.
Although the Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi warned that the Czech Republic would “pay a heavy price” during Senate President Vystrcil’s visit, political leaders from the European Union, France, Germany and Slovakia voiced support and openly challenged China. All of this demonstrates that European attitudes toward China are changing and shows that collaboration among democratic nations to stand up to China’s bullying and intimidation is gaining momentum.
Responding to the Soviet invasion in the wake of the Prague Spring pro-democracy movement, Alexander Dubcek famously said “You can crush the flowers, but you can’t stop the spring”. As Communist China’s expansionism encroaches on democratic systems and values, global collaboration against the CCP today marks the dawn of a new democratic spring.
You Si-kun's optimism and faith in the EU is touching, and I hope he's right. The dawn of a new democratic spring, though? I wish I could see it.
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