US senators introduce resolution praising Lithuania for strengthening relations with Taiwan
- Proposed resolution just the latest congressional action supportive of Taipei in its clashes with Beijing
- Other recent legislation would allow US$2 billion annually in military financing for Taiwan, and create a joint US-Taiwan infectious diseases monitoring centre
In recent days, lawmakers in Washington have taken new steps to signal their support for Taiwan, a rare show of unity in an otherwise extremely polarised Congress.
A bipartisan pair of senators on Friday introduced a resolution declaring support for the democratic island’s strengthening ties with Lithuania, the small Baltic nation that has brushed off Beijing’s anger and embraced Taipei as a like-minded government staring down a powerful, authoritarian China.
“This resolution sends a message that when our friends stand up to Chinese malign influence, the United States will support them,” said Senator James Risch of Idaho, the top Republican on the foreign affairs committee.
“I applaud the Lithuanian government for refusing to allow its foreign policy to be dictated by outside powers, and I fully support all nations in strengthening relations with Taiwan,” he said.
Jeanne Shaheen, the New Hampshire Democrat who chairs the committee’s Europe subcommittee, said that “the United States stands in solidarity with Lithuania against China’s abuse” and posted the resolution on Twitter.
In July, Lithuania – which, like the US, does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan – announced it would open Taipei’s de facto Lithuanian embassy under the name of the “Taiwanese Representative Office”. Such informal embassies usually use the name “Taipei” instead of “Taiwan”.