The foreign ministry says that Taiwan and Lithuania are committed to pursuing closer ties, despite facing intense pressure from China. The ministry’s statement on Tuesday comes after China recalled its ambassador to Lithuania amid a row over Lithuania’s decision to host a Taiwan representative office.
Taiwan and Lithuania announced in July that they will open offices in each other’s territories, in a step towards closer ties. It is the first time in 18 years that Taiwan has opened a new representative office in Europe.
Most significantly, the office in Lithuania will use the word “Taiwanese” in its title. Representative offices usually use the word “Taipei” to avoid angering China, which views Taiwan as part of its sovereign territory.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry says it has been paying close attention to China’s attempts to put pressure on Lithuania since the announcement. Lithuanian media reports say besides recalling its ambassador, China has stopped applications for Lithuanian food imports. Reports also say China has stopped exporting key raw materials to Lithuania.
The ministry says Lithuania and Taiwan share common values of freedom, democracy and respect for human rights. It says the two countries will work together to resist coercive attempts by authoritarian regimes.
The ministry says it condemns China’s attempts to use trade ties as a political tool. It says Taiwan will continue to work with Lithuania and other democratic countries towards a more prosperous future.