Scandal in Czech Republic: Chinese Military Experts Trained in Nuclear Protection Laboratories

In the Czech Republic, experts from a Chinese military university were trained at the Institute of Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Protection.

As a result of the incident, Tomáš Dropa was dismissed from his position as director of the institute (SÚJCHBO), according to the Czech publication TN Nova.

Chinese military experts were repeatedly granted access to Czech nuclear protection laboratories.

For three consecutive years, experts from the Beijing Military Academy—which reports directly to the Chinese military—visited the facility near Příbram.

According to the publication Deník N, they studied methods for detecting various biological agents in the Czech Republic and also planned to undergo training related to military technologies.

The institute’s former director defended the cooperation with the Chinese side, explaining that the Chinese specialists had independently requested the visit and training course. He also emphasized the financial benefits of such cooperation for Czech research.

For the May training course alone, the Chinese military experts paid nearly 800,000 Czech crowns. The next training session was scheduled for the fall.

Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar, whose portfolio includes these laboratories, was taken by surprise by this cooperation.

“This comes as a shock to me. I am extremely surprised and don’t understand it,” he said.

The minister described the cooperation with the Chinese side as a ‘security incident.’

Previously, the institution was under the administration of the State Office for Nuclear Safety (SÚJB), with which it continues to cooperate. Last year, the institute was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic. An internal audit has been ordered at the institute itself.

“Particular attention should be paid to activities related to the organization of training events for foreign participants, as well as visits to the institute’s premises by foreign delegations over the past five years,” said Vladimír Vlček, head of the Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic.