China Cuts Contact With Czech President After Dalai Lama Meeting

China said it is suspending all official contact with Czech President Petr Pavel after he met the Dalai Lama during a private visit to India on 27 July, Beijing’s Foreign Ministry announced on 12–13 August. Foreign-ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters the meeting “seriously contravenes” Prague’s past commitments on Tibet and “harms China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” The move marks an unusually sharp diplomatic response: Beijing stated it will “cease all engagement” with Pavel personally, though it did not mention broader bilateral ties with the Czech government. Pavel met the 90-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader in Ladakh to convey birthday congratulations, according to earlier Czech and Indian reports.