Diplomacy

Analysis: How Lithuania Is Navigating Ties With Taiwan and China

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By John Su/Hollie Younger

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Amid debate over a possible renaming of Taiwan's representative office in Lithuania, TaiwanPlus spoke with Matas Maldeikis, a Lithuanian lawmaker and former chair of the Lithuania-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group on how Vilnius is navigating its relationship with Beijing and Taipei.

Taiwan Office in Lithuania

REPORTER:  
Lithuania's foreign affairs committee reportedly says the government should keep the issue of renaming Taiwan's representative office separate from efforts to restore ties with China.

The Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania opened in 2021. Beijing objected to the office name. It responded by downgrading diplomatic ties with Vilnius, imposing heavy trade restrictions, and recalling its ambassador.

Earlier this month, reports surfaced that Lithuania had asked Taiwan to rename the office in a move aimed at restoring relations with China.

A Chinese delegation arrived in Vilnius this week. Lithuania's foreign ministry has yet to comment on the name change issue. The diplomatic dispute comes as Lithuania prepares to take over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2027.