Although Lithuania is restoring diplomatic links with China, it would not change the name of Taiwan’s representative office in the nation, a Lithuanian lawmaker was quoted as saying.
In late 2021, Lithuania allowed Taiwan to open a representative office in Vilnius under the name “Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania,” leading to China recalling its ambassador, expelling the Lithuanian ambassador to Beijing, and restricting the nation’s access to the Chinese market.
Since taking office, Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas has expressed interest in restoring diplomatic talks with China, although the name of the office remains a topic of debate.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Paluckas said that Lithuania would not sacrifice its relationship with Taiwan to resume ties with China, nor would the country issue an apology or make concessions, Lithuanian-language news Web site Delfi said.
Asked why China would be willing to resume bilateral relations without concessions, Paluckas said that normal countries maintain relations with each other, and that Lithuania could play a role in China’s larger interests in Europe.
Remigijus Motuzas, chair of the Lithuanian parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, confirmed to the outlet that China signaled a willingness to normalize diplomatic ties just days before a WTO ruling on China’s trade sanctions against Lithuania.
China’s message reportedly made clear that Lithuania must abide by the so-called “one China” principle, which Motuzas said Lithuania has not contravened, as the office is focused on trade and economic exchanges, and is not a diplomatic agency.
Lithuania rebuffed Taipei’s attempts to sign an intergovernmental agreement, as Vilnius does not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign country, although it would continue to cooperate on trade and economic matters, Motuzas said.
Some European countries might seek to strengthen exchanges with China in the face of US tariffs, he said.
Lithuania and China held talks about one month ago, in which both sides put forward their conditions and are awaiting a response, he added.
Talks are focused only on restoring ambassador-level diplomatic relations, and Lithuania has no intention of changing the name of the Taiwan representative office, nor of making any concessions, he said.
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