Taiwanese media personality and politician Jaw Shaw-kong has questioned the nature of a high-ranking Slovakian delegation’s visit. Slovakia’s deputy speaker Milan Laurenčík led the delegation in question on a visit to Taiwan between June 5-June 10.
During their trip, delegation members visited Taiwan’s legislature, where they took pictures imitating brawling Taiwanese legislators.
Heckling and physical altercations frequently break out between ruling and opposition party members during heated debates in the chamber.
The controversial photos led Jaw to question whether or not the Slovakian lawmakers visited Taiwan in an official capacity. Jaw says that a lawyer acquaintance of his emailed Slovakia’s parliament after seeing the picture, to which it responded saying Laurenčík’s visit was of a personal nature.
The Foreign Ministry rebutted Jaw’s claims, saying the Slovakian delegation came to Taiwan at the government’s invitation. The ministry also expressed regret and denounced attempts to smear, slander, or discredit foreign guests.
MOFA points out that Laurenčík will invite a Taiwanese delegation to visit Slovakia to reciprocate his recent trip.