Slovenian Prime Minister "Negotiating to Establish a Representative Office in Taiwan... Supporting Democracy"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-woo] Following Lithuania, which recently established a Taiwan representative office, Slovenia is also reportedly pushing to establish a Taiwan representative office. This move is interpreted as a response to the strengthening pro-American stance among Eastern European countries due to Russia's security threats.

According to Taiwan's United Daily News on the 19th, Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jan?a said in a video interview with India's international broadcasting channel DD India on the 17th, "We are negotiating the mutual establishment of representative offices with Taiwan," adding, "It will be a representative office at the same level as those of European Union (EU) member states stationed in Taiwan." This is understood to refer to the Taiwan representative office recently established in Lithuania.

Prime Minister Jan?a stated, "I support the Taiwanese people deciding their own future," and added, "There is no basis for China to block other countries from establishing economic and trade relations with Taiwan." He further emphasized, "I firmly support the Lithuanian government, which is facing economic retaliation from China due to the establishment of the Taiwan representative office."

He also criticized the Chinese government, saying, "There will be no benefit from pressuring Lithuania and other European countries," and noted, "I have previously visited Taiwan and personally experienced Taiwan's democracy, and I support Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization (WHO)."

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed a welcoming stance. Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Au Chang-an stated, "We will actively pursue mutual exchanges with ideologically similar partners in the future to seek opportunities for practical cooperation." However, considering the diplomatic repercussions with China, the spokesperson refrained from commenting on the negotiation status regarding the establishment of the representative office with Slovenia.

The movement to strengthen relations with Taiwan is spreading across various European countries such as the Netherlands, Estonia, and Latvia. Following the Czech Republic's dispatch of a delegation to Taiwan in August last year, delegations from the EU Parliament, the Baltic states including Lithuania, and senior officials from the Slovak government have also led large delegations to visit Taiwan.