A delegation of Lithuanian lawmakers has arrived in Taiwan. The delegation from the Lithuanian Parliament’s Committee on National Security and Defense is set to stay in the country for six days and meet with top officials.
The delegation of nine lawmakers is led by committee chair Laurynas Kasčiūnas and head of the parliament’s Taiwan friendship group Dovile Sakaliene. It plans on meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and National Security Chief Wellington Koo (顧立雄). The lawmakers will also meet with various ministries and agencies.
The delegation will also connect with local think-tanks to learn about developments in cross-Strait relations and the hybrid security threats Taiwan and Europe are facing.
The trip follows four visits from Lithuanian deputy ministers in 2022. Relations between both countries have been warming over the last few years.
Taiwan opened its representative office in the Baltic country under its own name in 2021. That sparked backlash from Beijing, who cut off imports of Lithuanian goods and expelled Lithuania’s ambassador in response. China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has not excluded using force as a way to unify the two countries.