Lithuania urges European Union to cut reliance on China
- Lithuanian foreign minister says bloc needs to act together to be on an equal footing with Beijing
- Vilnius recalls envoy from Chinese capital amid row over Taiwan
“Individual member states’ agendas towards China do not strengthen the European Union’s agenda. If we act on our own and drop the EU27 format, we will lose on so many fronts,” the Lithuanian foreign ministry quoted Landsbergis as saying.
He said the 27+1 format – involving the 27 members of the EU together – was the only possibility for a dialogue on an equal footing with Beijing, and the EU must strengthen its economic resilience and reduce dependence on Chinese trade.
Landsbergis said the EU must also work with like-minded countries in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond, and intensify cooperation with Nato on China policy issues.
Taiwan lashes out at Beijing in global call to stand by Lithuania
“The ministers insisted on the idea that we need a pragmatic, realistic and coherent approach with China and that we need unity and a shared sense of responsibility,” Borrell said.
“Also, we have to engage with China about Afghanistan. Competition, but also cooperation in trade and economic issues, are an important part of our relations with China.”
China halts rail freight to Lithuania as feud deepens over Taiwan
The meeting came as Lithuania recalled its ambassador to Beijing, after similar action from China.
Beijing regards Taiwan as a renegade province and maintains that it does not have the right to diplomatic recognition.
It told the Baltic nation to “immediately rectify its wrong decision, take concrete measures to undo the damage, and not to move further down the wrong path”.
The Lithuanian foreign ministry expressed regret over China’s action and stressed that while it respected the “one China” principle, it was ready to develop mutually beneficial ties with Taiwan.
Taiwan has informal ties with all major nations through trade offices that act as de facto embassies, including in the United States and Japan.
Pressure from Beijing has reduced the number of Taipei’s formal diplomatic allies to just 15.
US stands with Lithuania against ‘coercive’ China, State Department says
On Friday, the Lithuanian ministry said diplomats from the European Union – of which Lithuania is a member – expressed solidarity with Diana Mickeviciene, the recalled Lithuanian ambassador, as she left Beijing.
Deputy EU ambassador to China Tim Harrington shared a photo on Twitter of the EU heads of mission with Mickeviciene, wishing her a swift return.
Additional reporting by Associated Press
