Published: 13:07, August 13, 2020 | Updated: 20:07, June 5, 2023
Czech PM refutes Pompeo's claim of 'China threat'
By Xinhua

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, left, and the Czech Republic's Prime Minister Andrej Babis address the media during a joint press conference in Prague, Czech Republic, Aug 12, 2020. (PETR DAVID JOSEK / POOL PHOTO / AP)

PRAGUE - Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Wednesday that the Czech Republic is a sovereign country, and he does not see any major threat in the country.

He made the remarks after visiting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, while speaking at a joint press briefing in Prague, claimed that the United States, a country with a poor track record of respecting other nations' sovereignty, stood "prepared to support" the Czech people if the latter were bullied by others.

Czech PM Andrej Babis told visiting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that his country is "a sovereign country and I do not see any major threat here"

During his visit, Pompeo repeated his anti-China agenda while talking about cooperation with the Czech Republic on 5G security and nuclear power plant construction. He claimed that using technologies from China and Russia would pose a "danger" to the sovereignty and security of the Czech Republic.

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Calling the Czech Republic "a leader in Europe" on 5G and cybersecurity, Babis said his country is "a sovereign country and I do not see any major threat here."

On relations with China, Babis said that the Czech Republic "seeks lines with the European Union and there's no fundamental problem here," despite Pompeo's botched attempt to sow discord.

Pompeo's groundless claims about China have aroused strong condemnation from the Chinese Embassy in the Czech Republic.

Calling Pompeo's rhetoric as "full of ideological bias and Cold War ideas," the embassy said Pompeo is attacking China without any substantiation.

"In the name of so-called 'democracy and freedom,' Pompeo is attacking China without any substantiation, tarnishing China, trying to make China scapegoat for all existing problems and deliberately fomenting discord between other countries and China," the embassy said.

Quoting a Czech proverb that says "people are often caught in their own trap," the embassy urged Pompeo to stop spreading political viruses and false information, interfering in China's internal affairs, and subverting the unity and cooperation of the international community.

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