Lithuania

Taiwan’s “Representative Office” opens in Lithuania

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Taiwan has opened what it calls its Representative Office in Lithuania, defying China’s attempts to dissuade Vilnius from allowing what could be considered a de facto embassy for the self-governed island. Taiwan’s foreign ministry says that via the opening of the office, Taipei and Vilnius will deepen economic cooperation, in the tech sector in particular.

China is calling the opening of the Representative Office in the Baltic country “egregious” but has not specified any retaliatory actions other than holding Vilnius responsible for the consequences. The plan to open it first drew Beijing’s ire in August, when China sent Lithuania’s ambassador packing after Taiwan had divulged the name of its pending facility.

Observers say that while the opening of the Representative Office in Lithuania reveals Vilnius’ desire for closer relations with Taipei, Lithuania will still adhere to the EU’s “one China” policy and looks to participate in the “27 + 1” format.

This latest development regarding Taiwan comes in the wake of a report earlier this week, according to which lawmakers in Brussels had taken a step back from unveiling a new strategy for EU trade and economic dealings the island, in the hopes of not further aggravating tense EU-China relations.

Source: Al Jazeera

CET Editor

Recent Posts

US soldiers die during Lithuania training exercise

A total of three US soldiers were found dead while a fourth remains missing after…

13 hours ago

Trump-Putin detente could revive Nord Stream 2

The US and Russia are discussing the potential reopening of the Nord Stream 2 gas…

14 hours ago

Dodik dodges arrest warrant, surfaces in Moscow

Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik announced that he had arrived in Moscow on Monday…

14 hours ago

CEE startups outpace Western Europe rivals

Startups in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) are growing faster than in Western Europe and…

14 hours ago

Gender pay gaps remain in CEE, despite EU efforts

Romania and Poland have gender pay disparities among the lowest in the EU, according to…

1 week ago

Europe’s trilemma: rearmament, green transition, competitiveness

European leaders met in Brussels on 20 March to confront a mounting policy dilemma: how…

1 week ago