Taiwan’s foreign ministry has praised the United States for its repeated statements of support for Lithuania in recent days. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has raised the issue in recent calls with foreign ministers from France, Germany, the UK, Italy, and nine other countries in the past week alone.
Foreign Ministry Director-General of European Affairs Remus Chen says the ministry believes “virtue never stands alone”. He says Lithuania and Taiwan share a belief in principles of freedom and democracy and support for a rules-based international order. Chen says Lithuania and Taiwan are “on the right side of history”.
The United States’ backing for Lithuania comes as Lithuania faces intense pressure in diplomatic and trade channels from China. China’s pressure on Lithuania follows Lithuania and Taiwan’s announcement last year that they would open representative offices in each other’s countries.
In December, reports suggest that Chinese officials deleted Lithuania’s entry in China’s customs system, temporarily halting all imports from Lithuania. China vehemently denies those reports.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry says China is trying to cut Lithuania’s ties with the rest of the world. It says China’s behavior is reprehensible and its actions are attracting concern and condemnation from the international community.