Former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis was invited by Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry and the Prospect Foundation to discuss Lithuania-Taiwan relations and insights from Russia’s war on Ukraine at a forum in Taipei on Wednesday. During his tenure, Lithuania, along with seven countries, supported Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Assembly.
Taiwan’s Vice Foreign Minister Remus Chen Li-kuo (陳立國) thanked Lithuania for its steadfast support, including donating vaccines during the pandemic and advancing ties with Taiwan despite external pressure. Chen added that the two nations have ongoing collaborations in AI, semiconductors, and drones to promote mutual prosperity and democratic resilience.
Prospect Foundation President Dr. Lai I-Chung (賴怡忠) praised Lithuania’s unwavering commitment to democratic values, courageously supporting Taiwan despite significant pressure from China. He also acknowledged Landsbergis’ pivotal role in fostering bilateral relations, setting an inspiring example for small nations.
Landsbergis says small democracies like Lithuania and Taiwan hold a shared responsibility for defending global democratic order against authoritarian threats. He highlighted Lithuania’s bold decision to establish a Taiwanese representative office in Vilnius, which defied Chinese pressure and Western skepticism. Landsbergis drew parallels between Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and China’s strategies toward Taiwan, stressing the interconnectedness of these challenges. Supporting Ukraine, he argued for global efforts against authoritarian states and deterrence of Chinese ambitions in the Indo-Pacific.
Calling for unity, Landsbergis, speaking on behalf of small nations, urged powerful democratic allies to proactively preserve the rules-based order, asserting that the survival of small nations and global stability hinges on collective action against authoritarian regimes.