Taiwan in talks to set up non-diplomatic representative office in Estonia
- Estonian cabinet has revised country’s approach to the island, allowing it to open the office in Tallinn
- Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stresses that ‘we will not develop political relations with Taiwan’
The move comes after Estonia’s cabinet decided to revise the country’s approach to Taiwan and allow it to open a non-diplomatic representative office in Tallinn, its foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday.
“Just like many other countries of the European Union, Estonia is also ready to accept the establishment of a non-diplomatic economic or cultural representation of Taipei in order to promote the respective relations,” Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna was quoted as saying.
Tsahkna did not indicate when the office would be set up but stressed that Estonia would adhere to the one-China policy when it came to political relations.
“Estonia does not recognise Taiwan as a country. As part of the one-China policy, we will not develop political relations with Taiwan,” he said.
“At the same time, we consider it important to revive relations with Taiwan in economy, education, culture, communication between civil society organisations and other such fields.”
Tsahkna said in the country’s relations with Beijing, Estonia was striving for a unified policy with the European Union and the development of the widest possible cooperation with other like-minded partners, especially transatlantic allies.
He said as an EU member, Estonia adhered to the bloc’s approach of treating Beijing as “a partner, a competitor and a rival” though his country was keen to maintain “constructive relations with Beijing … to address various global and regional challenges, and to settle differences peacefully”.