TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Czech Senate Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Security Committee Chair Pavel Fischer on Saturday called for greater engagement between Taiwan, the Czech Republic, and other democracies to counter rising authoritarianism.
"If we are committed to the rule of law and the principles of democracy, I think the role is obvious," Fischer said. He emphasized that small and medium-sized democracies, including Taiwan and the Czech Republic, must maintain strong exchanges and cooperation to push back against authoritarian influence. "This kind of behavior can inspire others to follow," he added.
Fischer voiced concerns over Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, calling it a "blatant breach of international rules" that disregards the UN Charter. The UN's response has been inadequate due to Russia’s veto power in the Security Council, he said.
In Taiwan for the Yushan Forum, Fischer said his primary goal is to listen and gain a deeper understanding of the regional situation through discussions with Taiwanese officials.
"If I follow the news only, I see how many of these military operations of the PLA around Taiwan have occurred since my last visit," he said, adding that these threats must be addressed in political terms.
Fischer highlighted the Czech Senate’s resolutions supporting Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Assembly and other global organizations. “This is something that we should bring recognition to even more now when we see this intimidation activity around Taiwan,” he said.
A strong advocate for Taiwan, Fischer has visited the country twice before and was awarded the Friendship Medal of Diplomacy in 2023 for his contributions to Taiwan-Czechia relations.
His remarks come as Taiwan and the Czech Republic deepen cooperation in semiconductor research, drone technology, and cybersecurity.
In October, the two nations opened the Advanced Chip Design and Research Center in Brno, aimed at advancing semiconductor technology and research applications.
In February, the Taiwan Excellence Drone International Business Opportunities Alliance and the Taiwan Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to expand collaboration in the drone industry.
President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) has previously said that Taiwan and the Czech Republic could also expand cooperation in cybersecurity.
