The president of the Czech Senate on Thursday rejected China’s warning that he would “pay a heavy price” by visiting Taiwan, declaring that he did not cross any red line.

Milos Vystrcil was speaking at a joint press conference held with the Taiwanese foreign minister, Joseph Wu, after Beijing’s foreign minister Wang Yi criticized the Czech political leader’s “short-sighted behavior and political opportunism” and said the Chinese people would not sit idly by.

“Every country has its own understanding of the ‘one China’ policy, just as the People’s Republic of China has its own interpretation,” Vystrcil said.

“I do not think I have crossed any red line or violated any agreement,” he said, adding that democratic and free countries had the responsibility to support one another and work together.

Earlier, Beijing’s foreign ministry summoned the Czech Republic’s ambassador to file a stern representation, saying the trip amounted to “flagrant support of Taiwan independence.” China claims Taiwan as its own territory.

The Czech Republic does not have a formal diplomatic relationship with Taiwan, and Vystrcil’s trip is not supported by the Prague government.

On Wednesday, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen conferred a posthumous honor on Vystrcil’s predecessor, the late Czech Senate speaker Jaroslav Kubera, in recognition of his long-term support for the self-ruled island. Kubera had planned to visit Taiwan in February, but died of a heart attack a few days before the trip.

Vystrcil received the Order of Propitious Clouds with Special Grand Cordon on Kubera’s behalf during a meeting with Tsai at the Presidential Office in Taipei. He is currently leading a 90-person visiting Czech delegation.

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