Taiwan says it will seek closer economic ties with Lithuania as dispute with Beijing deepens

Taiwanese foreign ministry lauds Baltic nation’s ‘non-negotiable’ stand on its relationship with the island in the face of growing pressure

Lithuania has pulled its diplomats out of China as tensions escalate after Taipei opened a de facto embassy in Vilnius last month

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Taiwan opened a de facto embassy in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, in November, angering Beijing. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:01pm, 16 Dec 2021

Taiwan has vowed to expand economic and other ties with Lithuania amid an escalating row between Vilnius and Beijing over the self-ruled island.

Lithuania pulled its diplomats out of China on Wednesday, the latest move after Beijing downgraded relations with the Baltic state last month. That was in response to Lithuania allowing Taiwan to open a representative office in its capital under its own name, which Beijing says breaches the one-China policy.

On Thursday, Taiwan’s foreign ministry lauded Lithuania’s “non-negotiable” stand on its relationship with the island despite the pressure from Beijing.

“We offer our greatest respect to the Lithuanian government and its foreign-policy makers for their non-negotiable and unwavering stand in developing ties with Taiwan despite complex diplomatic and economic coercion from the Chinese government,” ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou said.

She said Taipei would call on the island’s businesses and the public to “fully support closer and mutually beneficial cooperation with Lithuania in areas such as economy, trade, science, technology, culture, education and other domains so that our two sides can deepen our partnership, prosperity and public well-being”.

The spokeswoman said the two sides had already agreed to cooperate on chips, biotechnology, space technology, satellites, finance and supply chains.

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Taiwan says it will seek closer economic ties with Lithuania as dispute with Beijing deepens

Taiwanese foreign ministry lauds Baltic nation’s ‘non-negotiable’ stand on its relationship with the island in the face of growing pressure Lithuania has pulled its diplomats out of China as tensions escalate after Taipei opened a de facto embassy in Vilnius last month

Taiwanese foreign ministry lauds Baltic nation’s ‘non-negotiable’ stand on its relationship with the island in the face of growing pressure

Lithuania has pulled its diplomats out of China as tensions escalate after Taipei opened a de facto embassy in Vilnius last month