Protest from Beijing: Taiwan opens representation in Lithuania

In the tug-of-war for more international recognition, Taiwan won a small victory: the government will open an official representative office in Lithuania – the first in Europe under its own name. Immediately protests came from China.

In the struggle with Beijing for its international status, Taiwan achieved success: for the first time, the island republic in Europe can open an agency under its own name. Foreign Minister Joseph Wu announced in Taipei that an office would be set up in Lithuania which would be called the “Taiwanese Representation”. Since Beijing regards the island as part of the People’s Republic and exerts pressure on other countries, similar representative offices in other countries only have “Taipei” in their names; there is also such an office in Germany.

With the opening of the representation one wants to develop the relations with the Baltic state and other Central European countries, so Wu. Taiwan and Lithuania want to work together on an economic, trade and technological level. The government expects an opening in Vilnius this summer.

USA welcome step

Foreign Office spokesman Zhao Lijian protested immediately in Beijing and spoke of an attempt to make Taiwan independent. “China rejects any form of formal relations between other countries and Taiwan and calls on the Baltic nation to follow the one-China principle.” With this doctrine and its political and economic weight, Beijing seeks to isolate Taiwan from the world. Only 15 states recognize Taiwan and therefore have to forego diplomatic relations with China.

The US, however, welcomed the Lithuanian decision. “All countries should be free to have closer ties and greater cooperation with Taiwan – a leading democracy, great economy and a force for good in the world,” said the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), the unofficial representative of the Taiwanese Institute US government in Taipei, with.

Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen thanked Lithuania. “We look forward to working even more closely with like-minded partners and friends.”

Disappointment with China

For some time now, there has been a noticeable rapprochement between Taiwan and the Baltic and some Central and Eastern European countries. More and more states are turning away from Beijing, disappointed. On the one hand, hopes for economic cooperation have not been fulfilled; on the other hand, criticism of China is growing.

With the rapprochement with Taiwan, the countries risk a massive annoyance of China. Beijing rejects the designation Taiwan because it would give the Pacific Island international legitimacy from their point of view. The official name of the democratically ruled island is Republic of China.

Lithuania, which still maintains diplomatic relations with Beijing, wants to set up a representative office in Taipei itself. “Lithuania is interested in expanding cooperation with Taiwan in various areas,” said a statement from the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry. The focus of the cooperation should therefore be the “development of economic relationships and cultural exchange”.