Lithuania set to open Taiwan representative office and risk further anger from Beijing
- The Baltic state has previously indicated the mission would open on Monday and named its first envoy to the island
- Last year’s opening of a Taiwanese representative office in Vilnius was seen by Beijing as a major violation of its sovereignty
Lithuania is expected to open its first-ever representative office in Taiwan this week amid growing tensions with Beijing.
The Lithuanian Trade Representative Office in Taipei is set to start operations this Monday, Lithuanian vice-minister for the economy and innovation Jovita Neliupsience told Baltic News Service last month.
Taiwan was tight-lipped over when exactly the office would open, but its foreign ministry confirmed that Lukauskas would be Lithuania’s first representative to the island.
“Lithuania Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said on September 4 that the Lithuanian economic and trade office was expected to open in September, to which we reiterate our utmost welcome and offer the country whatever assistance is necessary relating to the opening of the office,” Joanne Ou, a spokeswoman for Taiwan’s foreign ministry, said on Friday.