China on Friday warned Slovakia and the Czech Republic that none of them should harbour any illusions about the necessary measures China will take to defend its sovereignty, ahead of a visit to both countries next week by Taiwan’s foreign minister.

Beijing, which claims democratically-ruled Taiwan as its own territory, is always provoked by visits of senior Taiwanese officials to other countries, viewing it as covert support for the island’s claims to be a state.

Meanwhile, Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu will be in Slovakia and the Czech Republic next week for a forum in Slovakia organised by a local think tank, and then go to Prague to meet the Czech parliament upper house speaker, Milos Vystrcil, and Prague Mayor Zdenek Hrib.

Tags: Beijing, China, Slovakia, Taiwan