Ignoring the objections of Czech parliamentarians and citizens and the actions of other EU countries, Czech president Miloš Zeman will attend the grandiose military parade that Beijing plans to celebrate the 70th anniversary of China’s victory over Japan in World War II. He is to meet with the Chinese Communist regime’s leader Xi Jinping.
Heads of other EU countries decided to boycott the military parade that is seen as a muscle-flexing gesture by the Chinese regime and a provocation towards Japan. The European Union “pays tribute to the enormous sacrifices made by the Chinese people” but “reconciliation should be paramount,” stated EU spokesperson, according to Politico.eu.
Zeman seems to like to stand out with controversial actions and statements, much to the consternation of a portion of the Czech society and the nation’s parliamentarians. When he visited China for the first time, he told CCTV, China’s official state-run TV, “I am in China to learn how to improve economic growth and social stability,” prompting widespread disapproval across Czech society.
While the Czech government approved this visit to China, some have voted against it or abstained. “China is the country that, when it comes to human rights, cannot be considered as an exemplary regime,” said the Minister of Culture Daniel Herman, citing examples of persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and Christians, according to the media website Lidovky.cz.
