- Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša criticism of Beijing’s economic pressure and his commitment to deepening relations with Taiwan have angered China, according to the country’s foreign ministry.
- An official spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry said that Beijing was “shocked and strongly oppose slovenian remarks.”
- According to spokesman Zhao Lijian, the Slovenian statement was “a dangerous statement in support of Taiwan’s independence.”
- The interview with Janez Jansa on Doordarshan revealed his government’s plans to follow Lithuania’s lead against China by creating reciprocal trade offices with Taiwan.
- The Slovenian Prime Minister also said that “continued Chinese pressure on the Taiwan island and its European Union allies would backfire”. “
Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša’s criticism of China’s economic pressure and his commitment to deepening relations with Taiwan have angered China, according to the country’s foreign ministry.
An official spokeswoman for China’s Foreign Ministry said that China was “shocked and strongly opposed to Slovenian remarks.”
More specifically Zhao Lijian stated:
“The Chinese side is shocked by and strongly opposes the dangerous remarks by the Slovenian leader who flagrantly challenged the one-China principle and voiced support for “Taiwan independence”. There is but one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. The PRC government is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. The one-China principle is a universally-recognized norm governing international relations and common consensus of the international community. It is also the political foundation of China-Slovenia and China-EU relations.
China must be and will be reunified. Nobody should underestimate the Chinese people’s strong resolution, will, and capability to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
The interview with Janez Jansa on Doordarshan also revealed his government’s plans to follow Lithuania’s lead against China by creating reciprocal trade offices with Taiwan.
The Slovenian Prime Minister also said that “continued Chinese pressure on the Taiwan island and its newfound European Union allies would backfire”.
“We applaud Taiwan’s people for exercising their right to self-determination. If they wish to join China, we will assist them if they do so of their own free will, without any pressure, military intervention, blackmail, or strategic deceit, as is currently occurring in Hong Kong. “
“But if the people of Taiwan choose to live independently, we are here to support them as well, “added Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa.
He also supported Lithuania on the claim that China had restricted imports because of its decision to allow a Taiwanese representative office in the nation. Slovenia plans to follow Lithuania’s lead and open reciprocal trade offices with Taiwan, according to the Slovenian prime minister’s interview with Doordarshan.
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