The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Thursday, July 15, that a Czech citizen has recently been detained in China. Czech diplomatic personnel in China have established consular contact with the individual, but the Ministry did not disclose further details.
According to reports from Reuters, the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a press release that they will provide necessary consular assistance. However, they have not revealed the identity of the individual, the reasons for the detention, or any updates on the case, and have declined further comments.
Earlier reports from the Czech news website Seznam Zprávy cited sources indicating that a Czech businessman who has been doing business in China for a long time was detained by the Chinese authorities at an airport in late June and is still in custody.
At present, the relationship between the two countries is at a sensitive juncture. In January of this year, Czech police detained a Chinese citizen suspected of engaging in activities for Chinese intelligence agencies, prosecuting them for “engaging in activities on behalf of a foreign power without authorization.” This case marked the first time that the Czech Republic had made such a prosecution under relevant laws, and the case is still undergoing judicial proceedings.
In May, Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Petr Macinka met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in New York and discussed this case. Macinka emphasized that the Czech judiciary is independent, and the case will be handled by the court according to the law, ensuring that the detained Chinese citizen receives treatment that meets the required standards during custody.
Despite the delicate nature of the bilateral relations, Macinka has reiterated several times that the Czech government hopes to maintain normal relations with China to facilitate Czech businesses in expanding their export markets.
According to the schedule released by the Czech side, Tomio Okamura, the Speaker of the Czech Chamber of Deputies, is expected to lead representatives from about 40 Czech companies to visit China next week. The agenda includes discussions on resuming direct flights, visa-free arrangements, and economic cooperation with China.
As of now, there has been no public response from the Chinese authorities regarding this case.