Two European Union leaders say they support plans by Taiwan and Lithuania to establish representative offices in each other’s capitals. They also say that EU member states have the right to deepen their relationships with Taiwan. That came from a letter they sent on Thursday.
The letter, signed by European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen , was a reply to communication by Europe’s Formosa Club in August, which voiced support for Lithuania and Taiwan establishing representative offices in each other’s capitals.
China has reacted angrily to the plan, voicing particular objection to the fact that the Taiwan office in Lithuania will be able to call itself a “Taiwan Representative Office”. Normally, Taiwan’s offices abroad are given more euphemistic names to avoid upsetting Beijing. In response, China has recalled its ambassador to Lithuania, and demanded that Lithuania recall its ambassador to Beijing.
However, in the letter, the EU officials call China’s reaction to Lithuania’s actions “unjustified and disproportionate”. They say that allowing the establishment of Taiwanese representative offices, like those already functioning in most EU countries, does not violate the EU’s One China policy.
The leaders say that EU member states have an interest in, and a right to develop relations and cooperation with Taiwan. They say that Taiwan is a “like minded partner” that shares Europe’s values and principles, especially those of democracy, the rule of law, and human rights.