Lithuania seeks solution, China rejects resumption of relations for Taiwan

Lithuania has asked partner states to help provide consular services in China as Beijing continues to ignore calls for the resumption of diplomatic relations. Remigijus Motuzas, chairman of the Lithuanian parliament's foreign affairs committee, noted that the main obstacle is the "Taiwanese" in the name of the Taiwanese mission in Vilnius, according to the LRT portal.

The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry has therefore approached other countries to help Lithuanian citizens in China with visa or consular assistance. According to Motuzas, two Lithuanian citizens in prison in China are also in need of consular assistance.

Vilnius is facing increasing pressure from its own companies that want to develop trade with China but are faced with a lack of diplomatic representation.

Tensions between Lithuania and China have been ongoing since 2021, when Lithuania allowed Taiwan to open a representative office with a disputed name. Beijing sees this as a violation of the one-China policy. Although Lithuania has put forward a proposal to normalise relations, it does not include changing the name of the representative office, as confirmed by Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė. So far, however, there has been no resumption of relations.

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