In January, the Chinese Foreign Ministry experienced a „severe shock“, according to spokesman Zhao Lijian. Slovenia’s Prime Minister Janez Janša had called Taiwan a „democratic country“ and announced closer relations with Taipei. The right-wing populist also did not rule out the opening of a trade representation called the „Taiwan Office“ (China.Table reported). Whether the plan is still relevant in Ljubljana is, however, doubtful: Janša has been voted out of office – and with the new government under political newcomer Robert Golob, the signs of China policy in the central European EU state once again point more to economic cooperation than confrontation.