Another European Nation Defies China As Slovenia Strengthens Taiwan Ties

Authored by newsweek.com and submitted by theoryofdoom

China has described its shock at comments from Slovenia's prime minister Janez Jansa criticizing Beijing's economic coercion and vowing to strengthen relations with Taiwan.

On Tuesday, Indian public broadcaster Doordarshan aired an interview with the Central European leader in which he disclosed his government's plans to follow Lithuania's lead by establishing reciprocal trade offices with Taipei. He also warned that continued Chinese pressure against the democratic island and its newfound friends in the European Union would backfire.

Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, told a press conference that Beijing was "shocked by this and strongly opposes it." He described Jansa's remarks as "a dangerous statement in support of 'Taiwan independence.'"

China has never governed Taiwan but asserts a historic claim to the island, which goes by the formal title the Republic of China and has no official diplomatic relations with any EU member or even with its strongest international backer, the United States. The Chinese leadership has threatened to seize the island by force if it declares formal independence under the name "Taiwan."

Zhao's response appeared to be a direct reference to Jansa's view that the people of Taiwan should be allowed to make their own choice. "We support the sovereign decision of the Taiwanese people. If they want to join China; if it is their free will—without any pressure, without any military intervention, without any blackmailing, without strategic cheating, as is happening in Hong Kong currently—then we will support it," he said.

"But if Taiwanese people want to live independently, we are here to support also this position," said Jansa. His words were a departure from the carefully crafted statements of other world leaders, who are often wary of offending China.

Jansa revealed that Ljubljana and Taipei were working on exchanging trade representatives. "Of course, this will not be on the level of embassies. It will be on the same level as many of the EU member countries already have them," he said. This was an issue of "common benefit," he added.

The Slovenian PM also threw his weight behind Vilnius, which says Beijing has blocked Lithuanian imports over its decision to allow a Taiwanese representative office in the country. The inclusion of the word "Taiwan" contrasted with the more ambiguous "Taipei" used in capitals such as Washington, D.C.

The Taiwanese government's response was to pledge $200 million worth of investment in the Lithuanian economy and offer $1 billion in credit to fund commercial projects in Lithuania and Taiwan.

"Frankly speaking, there is a vast majority of the EU member countries holding some kind of representative offices with Taiwan. Lithuania is not an exception," Jansa said. "There are some slight differences in naming, but this is not important."

He described China's indirect economic sanctions as "terrifying." The EU, meanwhile, says Lithuania's decision was in line with the bloc's "one-China policy," under which trade and cultural ties with Taiwan don't represent a recognition of the island's statehood.

"Formally, the European Union backed Lithuania. Any kind of proceeding pressure on Lithuania and some other countries in Europe will not benefit China's government," said Jansa. "Good trade relations are in common interest. If one side is trying to hurt these relations, maybe they could benefit short term, but long term we are all losers."

Slovenia's leader said his country wouldn't be deterred by the treatment of Lithuania, which had its ambassador expelled and its embassy shut. A stronger ruling coalition in Ljubljana would've already established trade representation with Taiwan, he added.

Neither Jansa nor Taiwan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed when or under what name the new offices will operate.

The mission in Vilnius opened last November. Lithuania's reciprocal office will open in Taipei this year.

weilim on January 19th, 2022 at 23:57 UTC »

There are some people here who are trying to compare the former Soviet Republics / former Eastern Bloc countries with Southeast Asia countries.

First, the former Soviet Republic and former Eastern Bloc countries until Lithuania established relations with Taiwan/ROC, never had any representation in Taiwan, not even a trade office. When they became independent, they established relations with the PRC.

In Southeast Asia, original ASEAN countries like Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand all once recognized the ROC, and when they switched recognition to the PRC, the ROC embassy was downgraded to a Trade - Cultural Office. In the Indonesian case when they broke off relations with the PRC in 1967, they allowed the ROC to establish the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in 1971, it was changed to the Taipei Economic and Trade Office when relations were reestablished with the PRC in 1989.

Because of these former ties with Taiwan, the PRC has always been much more tolerant of what ASEAN does with Taiwan. Singapore sends its troops to Taiwan for training since the 1970s, and this hasn't stopped even when Singapore switched recognition to the PRC in 1989. The Philippines. Despite Chinese complaints, the Philippines inked an investment agreement with Taiwan.

While Taiwan's relations with SEA countries are much smaller than the PRC, they are still substantial. China doesn't want to rock the boat. For example, there are 250,000 Indonesian migrant workers working in Taiwan. Many Taiwanese companies in SEA employ Mainland Chinese workers. IF China started to do Philippines/Vietnam and target MNC, as they do with Lithuania, for their ties with Taiwan that would be the height of insanity.

Secondly, what I think Lithuania and Slovenia want is what many Western, Asian, and South American countries have, which are trade offices with Taiwan. Their argument is why can't have trade offices as Singapore does.

Randarserous on January 19th, 2022 at 19:57 UTC »

I think the only solution is to take Taiwan and Push it somewhere else

theoryofdoom on January 19th, 2022 at 16:12 UTC »

Submission Statement: Slovenia has announced its intentions to strengthen relations with Taiwan, following Lithuania's lead by establishing reciprocal trade offices. The Chinese Foreign Ministry was "shocked" and "strongly opposes" such a "dangerous" show of support for Taiwanese independence. While Slovenia's prime minister confirmed this would not go as far as establishing an embassy, Slovenia will be undeterred by the threat of Chinese economic reprisals.