(ANSA-AFP) - BEIJING, JAN 20 - Beijing on Wednesday hit out at Slovenia after the European Union country said it plans to strengthen ties with the self-ruled island of Taiwan. China claims democratic Taiwan as its territory, to be retaken one day by force if necessary, and has stepped up efforts to diplomatically isolate it in recent years. Beijing also bristles at any international support for Taiwan that might lend any sense of international legitimacy to the island. "We have noted that the Slovenian leader has openly made a dangerous statement challenging the One-China principle, supporting 'Taiwan independence'", Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a regular briefing Wednesday. "We are deeply shocked and strongly opposed to this." The backlash comes after Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa said his country is preparing an exchange of representatives with Taiwan. "We are working on establishing... well, on exchanging representatives," Jansa said in an interview to India's Doordarshan national television, published on the government's website. (ANSA-AFP).