Final Word from Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Foreign Min. Jan Lipavský said yesterday after meeting in Washington with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that the Indo-Pacific region is a foreign-policy priority for the two countries and that the goal is to coordinate action in the region and to build on cooperation with Taiwan and other democratic partners there. This might seem bland until one reads the U.S. National Defense Strategy: "The most comprehensive and serious challenge to U.S. national security is the PRC's [China's] coercive and increasingly aggressive endeavor to refashion the Indo-Pacific region and the international system to suit its interests and authoritarian preferences." The six countries PM Petr Fiala visited in Asia are all part of either the U.S.'s Indo-Pacific strategy or its new Central Asian policy. Blinken has also recently met with leaders of all six. When the two heads of the Czech Parliament travel to Taiwan, it's clear what they are doing. Fiala is much more stealthy about his contribution to U.S. foreign policy. [ Czech Republic United States People's Republic of China Philippines Indonesia Singapore Vietnam Kazakhstan Uzbekistan visit trip Senate Miloš Vystrčil Markéta Pekarová Adamová ]