On November 21 China downgraded its diplomatic ties with Lithuania, expressing strong dissatisfaction with the Baltic state after Taiwan opened a de facto embassy there. Beijing said relations would be downgraded to the level of chargé d’affaires, a rung below ambassador.
China views self-ruled and democratically governed Taiwan as its territory with no right to statehood and has stepped up pressure on countries to downgrade or sever their relations with the island, even non-official ones. Other Taiwan offices in Europe and the United States use the name of the city Taipei, avoiding reference to the island itself. The Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania finally opened on November 18.
Lithuania expressed regret over China’s move but defended its right to expand cooperation with Taiwan, while respecting Beijing’s “One China” policy. Taiwan, meanwhile, reported that two Chinese nuclear-capable H-6 bombers had flown to the south of the island on Sunday, part of a pattern of what Taipei views as military harassment designed to pressure the government.
Beijing had already expressed its anger this summer with Lithuania – which has formal relations with China and not Taiwan – after it allowed the island to open an office in the country using the name Taiwan. China recalled its ambassador in August.
“The welcoming of the Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania is based on economic interests,” according to the Lithuanian foreign ministry, and Lithuania’s Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė confirmed: “Our government’s programme says Lithuania wants a more intense economic, cultural and scientific relationship with Taiwan”.
Taiwan has received growing international support in the face of China’s military and diplomatic pressure, especially from the United States and some of its allies. Washington rejects attempts by other countries to interfere in Lithuania’s relationship with Taiwan, US Under Secretary of State Uzra Zeya told a news conference in Vilnius on November 19. Lithuania Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis will go to Washington on November 23 where he expects to meet US Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose W. Fernandez to discuss possibilities to expand and deepen mutually beneficial economic ties. Washington has offered Vilnius support to withstand Chinese pressure and Lithuania will sign a $600 million export credit agreement with the US Export-Import Bank on November 24.
Lithuania’s food industry expects to bear the brunt of the deterioration of Vilnius-Beijing diplomatic ties, which will lead to a freeze in business cooperation, says Rokas Radvilavičius, head of the Lithuania-China Trade Association.
The Association is working with two dozen Lithuanian technology and laser companies looking to expand relations with China. The downgrade of diplomatic relations will make these efforts harder. “We do not directly represent Chinese businesses in Lithuania or Lithuanian businesses in China, but we help them implement projects more easily, therefore the souring of the diplomatic relations is undoubtedly bad for trade and economy. More disruptions will follow, including in the areas of supply and cooperation, and many projects might be frozen,” the association head said.
News from LRT.lt
