Taiwan plans representative office in Slovenia as the EU nation blasts Beijing
- Island confirms negotiations for it and Slovenia to host each other’s missions, in defiance of Beijing, which has rebuked Lithuania for a similar arrangement
- Slovenian leader Janez Jansa condemns ‘capital with a one-party system lecturing about democracy and peace’ and says Beijing could gain from Taiwan joining WHO
The island’s foreign ministry on Tuesday said that negotiations were under way and welcomed remarks by Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa, who on Monday voiced strong criticism of Beijing in an interview with Indian broadcaster Doordarshan.
“Actually, we have normal relations with Taiwan,” Jansa said. “Last year, when we saw some good anti-pandemic measures in Taipei, I personally called the health minister of Taiwan and we had an audio-video conference, exchanging our experiences. I personally visited Taiwan four or five times so far.
“They are a democratic country. It’s difficult to listen to a capital with a one-party system lecturing about democracy and peace around the world. You know, [Taiwan is] a country which is democratic and respects all international democratic standards, international law included.”
02:13
Shinzo Abe, Japan’s ex-leader says Tokyo and Washington will stand by Taiwan, angering Beijing
As anti-Beijing sentiment in Europe grows, Ljubljana’s bolstering of ties with Taipei – with which it does not have formal relations – is expected to rile Beijing. It has been angered by Lithuania’s agreement with Taiwan to host each other’s de facto embassies, allowing the self-ruled island to increase its presence in Europe.
Beijing considers Taiwan a wayward province that must be brought into its fold by force if necessary. It has time and again warned other countries against having official contact with the island.
It has suspended official exchanges with Taiwan and poached eight of its allies, including Nicaragua last month, since Tsai Ing-wen of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party was elected president in 2016 and refused to accept the one-China principle.
Jansa had told Doordarshan that Slovenia was following other European nations in establishing offices to boost economic cooperation and partnership, and said its office would focus on trade and other substantive cooperation.
“Of course, this will not be on the level of embassies,” he said. “It will be on the same level as many of the [European Union] member countries already have.
“And frankly speaking, if we had stronger coalitions in former years, I think we would have established such trade representative offices already in the past, because this is an issue of common benefit.”
Jansa expressed support for Lithuania’s decision to swap de facto embassies with Taiwan despite criticism and economic coercion from Beijing.
The Lithuanian government signed an agreement with Taiwan in July to open the island’s office under the name Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania. Its opening in November prompted Beijing to lodge a protest with Vilnius.
Slovenia was “still supporting [Lithuania] during this pressure,” Jansa said. “There is a vast majority of the EU member countries holding some kind of representative offices with Taiwan. Lithuania is not an exception.
02:17
‘One China’ explained
“Good trade relations are a common interest,” he said. “If one side is trying to hurt these relations, maybe they could benefit short-term, but long-term we are all losers.”
Jansa said he believed that Taiwan should have the right to decide its own future, be it to reunify with mainland China or “live independently”.
Taiwanese foreign ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou said Taiwan and Slovenia had “close economic and trade exchanges” and had “held virtual talks on anti-pandemic measures”.
She said that Jansa had written to EU member states asking them to support Lithuania’s ties with Taiwan, showing the value he placed on friendship with Taipei.
