Sobotka's agreement with China

The People's Republic of China picks its words carefully. When its embassy states on its website and on Facebook that it hopes that "the Czech side will accord fair, equitable and indiscriminate business conditions to Chinese companies for their activities in the CR," it's sending a signal that not everyone will understand. It's quoting almost verbatim from Art. 2 of the investment promotion and protection agreement signed with the CR on Dec. 8, 2005. It's thereby giving informal notice that reports in the Czech media about Huawei could violate the treaty. When the treaty was signed by Finance Min. Bohuslav Sobotka in Dec. 2005, it was opposed by then-Foreign Min. Cyril Svoboda and others for being one-sided in favor of China. Taking action under the treaty itself is a long and arduous process, but that's probably not the point. China is more likely warning that the aspects of the agreement that disfavor Czech companies could now be applied with a little more zeal.