Lithuania plans to open Taiwan office in September, says exports to mainland China ‘close to zero’

Lithuanian minister visiting Taipei says Beijing was important trade partner and drop in exports has caused pain to some domestic businesses

Vilnius remains confident the US$250 million value of direct exports to mainland China last year can be made up in other markets in Asia

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Amid a row with Beijing, shipments of rum from Lithuania turned away from mainland China were diverted to Taiwan in January. Photo: Handout

Published: 7:36pm, 15 Jun 2022Updated: 8:11pm, 15 Jun 2022

Lithuania plans to open a representative office in Taiwan in September, one of its deputy ministers said on Wednesday, part of a bolstering of ties with the island that has infuriated mainland China and led, she added, to exports falling to almost zero.

Lithuania has come under sustained pressure from Beijing, which claims self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory, to reverse a decision last year to allow the island to open a de facto embassy in the capital, Vilnius, under its own name.

Beijing has downgraded diplomatic ties with Lithuania and pressured multinationals to sever ties with it, while urging it to correct its “mistakes”.

Lithuania’svice-minister of economy and innovation Jovita Neliupsiene at a news conference with Taiwan’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou in Taipei. Photo: Reuters

Speaking to reporters in Taipei, vice-minister of economy and innovation Jovita Neliupsiene said Lithuania hoped its reciprocal office in Taiwan would open “as of September”, adding she had scouted out some locations during her visit.

Taiwan has stepped up its food imports from Lithuania – most recently rum – to help ease the impact of mainland Chinese curbs on its goods, such as beer, dairy and beef.

Neliupsiene said China had been an important export partner, but its exports to the mainland in the first quarter had fallen to “close to zero” year-on-year.

“Of course, it’s very painful for certain sectors, for certain businesses and certain parts of the economy,” she said.