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| mission2 = Lithuanian Trade Representative Office | mission2 = Lithuanian Trade Representative Office
| envoytitle1 = Representative | envoytitle1 = Representative
| envoy1 = ] | envoy1 = ]
| envoytitle2 = Representative | envoytitle2 = Representative
| envoy2 = Paulius Lukauskas | envoy2 = Paulius Lukauskas
}} }}


⚫ ], officially the Republic of China, does not have official diplomatic relations with Lithuania, since Lithuania does not officially recognize the Republic of China and maintains a ] whereby it views the ] as the sole legitimate government representing China. Despite this, relations between Lithuania and Taiwan have grown closer in recent years.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last1=Andrijauskas|first1=Konstantinas|date=13 January 2021|title=Taiwan and Lithuania ties grow tighter|url=https://chinaobservers.eu/taiwan-and-lithuanias-ties-grow-tighter/|access-date=22 March 2021|website=China Observers|publisher=China Observers.EU}}</ref> In 2021, Taiwan opened the "Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania". Lithuania opened a representative office in Taiwan in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/4115525 |author = 呂伊萱 |date = 2022-11-07 |title = 立陶宛經創部長宣布「立陶宛貿易代表處」揭牌 台立友好展新頁 |publisher = 自由時報 |access-date = 2022-11-07 |archive-date = 2022-11-07 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221107155702/https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/4115525 }}</ref><ref name="駐臺外國機構">{{Cite web |url = https://www.mofa.gov.tw/OfficesInROC_Content.aspx?n=169&sms=86&s=27&os=94 |title = 駐臺外國機構 |publisher = 中華民國外交部 |access-date = 2022-11-07 |archive-date = 2022-11-07 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221107160007/https://www.mofa.gov.tw/OfficesInROC_Content.aspx?n=169&sms=86&s=27&os=94 }}</ref> The strengthening of relations between Lithuania and Taiwan has been heavily opposed by the People's Republic of China (PRC), which doesn't recognize Taiwan's effective sovereignty.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Galbraith|first=Andrew|date=October 30, 2021|title=China warns Lithuania, European officials over Taiwan row|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china-warns-lithuania-european-officials-over-taiwan-row-2021-10-30/|access-date=November 14, 2021}}</ref> Notably, the PRC has downgraded its embassy in Lithuania to the status of a "'']''" in protest.<ref>{{Cite news|date=November 21, 2021|title=China downgrades diplomatic relations with Lithuania over Taiwan row|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/21/china-downgrades-diplomatic-relations-with-lithuania-over-taiwan-row|access-date=December 12, 2021}}</ref> The PRC and Lithuania had previously ] with one another since 1991.
⚫ The ] (ROC) and ] established diplomatic relations in 1921, three years after ] in 1918. The relations continued until the ] in 1940. The ROC ] the Soviet annexation of Lithuania. The ROC lost the vast majority of its territory, namely ], to the ] (PRC) in 1949 (]), and it has been limited to the ], formerly a ] and ] since the 1950s. Democratic Lithuania and ] established unofficial diplomatic relations in 2021, thirty-one years after the ] in 1990.

⚫ Relations between Lithuania and Taiwan have grown closer in recent years.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last1=Andrijauskas|first1=Konstantinas|date=13 January 2021|title=Taiwan and Lithuania ties grow tighter|url=https://chinaobservers.eu/taiwan-and-lithuanias-ties-grow-tighter/|access-date=22 March 2021|website=China Observers|publisher=China Observers.EU}}</ref> In 2021, Taiwan opened the "Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania". Meanwhile, Lithuania intends to open a representative office in Taiwan.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Tai|first1=Ya-chen|last2=Mazzetta|first2=Matthew|date=July 20, 2021|title=Lithuania to open trade office in Taiwan this fall|work=Focus Taiwan|url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202107200030|access-date=November 14, 2021}}</ref> The recent strengthening of relations between Lithuania and Taiwan in 2021 has been heavily opposed by the People's Republic of China (PRC), which doesn't recognises Taiwan .<ref>{{Cite news|last=Galbraith|first=Andrew|date=October 30, 2021|title=China warns Lithuania, European officials over Taiwan row|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china-warns-lithuania-european-officials-over-taiwan-row-2021-10-30/|access-date=November 14, 2021}}</ref> Notably, the PRC has downgraded its embassy in Lithuania to the status of a "'']''" in protest.<ref>{{Cite news|date=November 21, 2021|title=China downgrades diplomatic relations with Lithuania over Taiwan row|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/21/china-downgrades-diplomatic-relations-with-lithuania-over-taiwan-row|access-date=December 12, 2021}}</ref> The PRC and Lithuania had previously ] with one another since 1991.


==History== ==History==
⚫ The ] (ROC) and ] established diplomatic relations in 1921, three years after ] in 1918. The relations continued until the ] in 1940. The ROC ] the Soviet annexation of Lithuania. The ROC lost the vast majority of its territory, namely ], to the ] (PRC) in 1949 (]), and it has been limited to the ], formerly a ] and ] since the 1950s. Democratic Lithuania and ] established unofficial diplomatic relations in 2021, thirty-one years after the ] in 1990.


=== First phase of relations (1921–2021) ===
{{unreferencedsect|date=February 2022}}
In 1921, the ] (ROC) and ] were relatively new countries in their then-modern forms, with Lithuania having declared independence from the then-defunct ] in 1918 (in the context of ] occupation during ]) and with the ROC having overthrown the ] in 1912. Contemporaneously, throughout the entire ], the ] was a ], having been ceded to the ] by the Qing dynasty in 1895. Taiwan was ] by the ROC at the end of ] in 1945 following ]. Meanwhile, Lithuania was annexed by the ] (led by ]) in 1940, near the beginning of WWII.

The ROC ] the ] in 1940. Nonetheless, relations between the ROC and Lithuania were subsequently ''de facto'' nonexistent throughout the entire period of ] (1940–1990). In 1949, the ROC was overthrown by the ] (PRC) in ] in the context of the ], though it ] over the island of Taiwan and ]. Aside from a few other territorial changes during the early-1950s, the ROC's territory has been limited to these aforementioned territories since then. During the ], the ] has changed considerably, e.g. the ] political party no longer rules the country as a ] and the country now holds ] in order to determine the ] although the ROC still maintain the claim to be the sole legitimate government of the country of "China", which includes Taiwan, mainland China and Tibet. The PRC has claimed Taiwan as its ] since 1949.

=== Second phase of relations (2021–present) ===
In 1991, the PRC and Lithuania ] with one another, one year after the ] in 1990. Contemporaneously, Lithuania and Taiwan did not have much contact throughout the 1990s and 2000s, with Taiwan's main partner in the ] being ] prior to 2021.<ref name=":0" /> In 1991, the PRC and Lithuania ] with one another, one year after the ] in 1990. Contemporaneously, Lithuania and Taiwan did not have much contact throughout the 1990s and 2000s, with Taiwan's main partner in the ] being ] prior to 2021.<ref name=":0" />


Since 2020, Lithuania–Taiwan relations have rapidly warmed, and in April of that year 200 Lithuanian politicians and public figures petitioned the President of Lithuania to support Taiwan's membership in the ]. These calls were reiterated by the then-foreign minister, ], in a direct phone call with the head of the WHO.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lithuania calls on WHO to invite Taiwan to international assembly|website=lrt.lt|date=13 May 2020|url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1178102/lithuania-calls-on-who-to-invite-taiwan-to-international-assembly|access-date=23 March 2021}}</ref> On 19 June 2020, Taiwanese representative to the Baltic states Andy Chin spoke in the ] at the invitation of the opposition ], inviting objection from China and marking the highest platform any Taiwanese official had achieved in the Baltic states.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chinese ambassador incensed after Taiwan representative speaks in Lithuanian parliament|website=lrt.lt|date=23 June 2020|url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1190951/chinese-ambassador-incensed-after-taiwan-representative-speaks-in-lithuanian-parliament|access-date=23 March 2021}}</ref> Since 2020, Lithuania–Taiwan relations have rapidly warmed, and in April of that year 200 Lithuanian politicians and public figures petitioned the President of Lithuania to support Taiwan's membership in the ]. These calls were reiterated by the then-foreign minister, ], in a direct phone call with the head of the WHO.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lithuania calls on WHO to invite Taiwan to international assembly|website=lrt.lt|date=13 May 2020|url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1178102/lithuania-calls-on-who-to-invite-taiwan-to-international-assembly|access-date=23 March 2021}}</ref> On 19 June 2020, Taiwanese representative to the Baltic states Andy Chin spoke in the ] at the invitation of the opposition ], inviting objection from China and marking the highest platform any Taiwanese official had achieved in the Baltic states.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chinese ambassador incensed after Taiwan representative speaks in Lithuanian parliament|website=lrt.lt|date=23 June 2020|url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1190951/chinese-ambassador-incensed-after-taiwan-representative-speaks-in-lithuanian-parliament|access-date=23 March 2021}}</ref>


Lithuania's ] platform has a clause supporting full recognition of the independence of Taiwan (ROC),<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.laisvespartija.lt/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Laisv%C4%97s-partijos-2020-m.-Seimo-rinkim%C5%B3-programa.pdf|title= Laisvės partijos|date=2020|website=www.laisvespartija.lt|access-date=23 March 2021|page=138}}</ref> and in the ], parties sympathetic to Taiwan such as the Homeland Union and Freedom Party entered government and formed a coalition. In 2021, the Lithuania-Taiwan Forum was established by over 50 Lithuanian political figures,<ref>{{cite web|title=BNS: Naujiena|website=BNS|date=22 March 2021|url=https://www.bns.lt/topic/1912/news/63407879/?fbclid=IwAR03RFXMXx6re7_NymZOSWPpkVzgZu6WQv59aUWfiW0b5I1R8JVnrHG4PMc|language=lt|access-date=23 March 2021}}</ref> most notably ] and ], and it was announced that Lithuania would open a trade office in Taiwan amidst growing discontent with China's "17 + 1" program.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lithuania to open Taiwan trade office, the latest sign of discontent with China by a '17+1' member|website=South China Morning Post|date=4 March 2021|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3123983/lithuania-open-taiwan-trade-office-latest-sign-discontent|access-date=23 March 2021}}</ref> Lithuania's ] platform has a clause supporting full recognition of the independence of Taiwan (ROC),<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.laisvespartija.lt/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Laisv%C4%97s-partijos-2020-m.-Seimo-rinkim%C5%B3-programa.pdf|title= Laisvės partijos|date=2020|website=www.laisvespartija.lt|access-date=23 March 2021|page=138}}</ref> and in the ], parties sympathetic to Taiwan such as the Homeland Union and Freedom Party entered government and formed a coalition. In 2021, the Lithuania-Taiwan Forum was established by over 50 Lithuanian political figures,<ref>{{cite web|title=BNS: Naujiena|website=BNS|date=22 March 2021|url=https://www.bns.lt/topic/1912/news/63407879/?fbclid=IwAR03RFXMXx6re7_NymZOSWPpkVzgZu6WQv59aUWfiW0b5I1R8JVnrHG4PMc|language=lt|access-date=23 March 2021}}</ref> most notably ] and ], and it was announced that Lithuania would open a trade office in Taiwan amidst growing discontent with China's "17 + 1" program.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lithuania to open Taiwan trade office, the latest sign of discontent with China by a '17+1' member|website=South China Morning Post|date=4 March 2021|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3123983/lithuania-open-taiwan-trade-office-latest-sign-discontent|access-date=23 March 2021}}</ref>


In October 2021, Lithuania's parliament passed a legislative revision that gave the green light to the country to open a representative office in Taiwan.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lithuania passes law, giving green light to open Taiwan office - Focus Taiwan|url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202110010020|access-date=2021-10-28|website=focustaiwan.tw|language=zh-Hant-TW}}</ref> On 18 November 2021, Taiwan opened its de-facto embassy, the ], in Vilnius. The naming of this office was notable for its use of "Taiwan" in the title rather than ], though Lithuanian officials confirmed that the office would not have diplomatic status and the name would not imply recognition of statehood,<ref>{{cite web |title=Taiwan opens representative office in Lithuania |url=https://oec.world/en/profile/country/ltu |website=DW |access-date=9 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=URM: taivaniečių atstovybė Vilniuje diplomatinio statuso neturės|url=https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/lithuania/urm-taivanieciu-atstovybe-vilniuje-diplomatinio-statuso-netures.d?id=88709599|publisher=Delfi.lt|access-date=9 December 2021}}</ref> and have maintained that it was not in breach of their 1991 recognition of the PRC's ] during their ].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www-delfi-lt.translate.goog/news/daily/lithuania/po-kinijos-priekaistu-lietuvai-simonytes-atsakas-mes-laikomes-sutarties.d?id=88772991&_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=zh-TW |access-date=10 December 2021|title=Po Kinijos priekaištų Lietuvai – Šimonytės atsakas: mes laikomės sutarties}}</ref> However, Beijing disagreed and recalled their ambassador from Vilnius<ref>{{cite web|last1=Aboudouh|first1=Ahmed|title='More bark than bite': How China's reprimand over Taiwan falls on deaf ears in Lithuania|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/china/china-taiwan-lithuania-eu-washington-b1900145.html|publisher=The Independent|access-date=9 December 2021}}</ref> and expelled the Lithuanian ambassador in Beijing.<ref>{{cite web|author=Agence France-Presse|title=Lithuania ambassador leaving China|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2021/08/13/2003762534|website=www.taipeitimes.com|publisher=Taipei Times|access-date=12 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=China downgrades ties with Lithuania over Taiwan |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/21/china-downgrades-ties-with-lithuania-over-taiwan |website=] |access-date=9 December 2021}}</ref> In early January of 2022, The Taiwanese Representative Office in Vilnius announced that the Taiwanese government was planning to invest $200 million (USD) into Lithuania's industry and technology sectors later in the year.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-01-05|title=Taiwan to invest $200m in Lithuania to offset Beijing’s sanctions|url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1581629/taiwan-to-invest-200m-in-lithuania-to-offset-beijing-s-sanctions|access-date=2022-01-06|website=lrt.lt|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2022-01-06|title=Taiwan setting up $200m Lithuania fund amid China row|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-59890338|access-date=2022-01-06}}</ref> In October 2021, Lithuania's parliament passed a legislative revision that gave the green light to the country to open a representative office in Taiwan.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lithuania passes law, giving green light to open Taiwan office - Focus Taiwan|url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202110010020|access-date=2021-10-28|website=focustaiwan.tw|language=zh-Hant-TW}}</ref> On 18 November 2021, Taiwan opened its de facto embassy, the ], in Vilnius. The naming of this office was notable for its use of "Taiwan" in the title rather than ], though Lithuanian officials confirmed that the office would not have diplomatic status and the name would not imply recognition of statehood,<ref>{{cite web |title=Taiwan opens representative office in Lithuania |url=https://oec.world/en/profile/country/ltu |website=DW |access-date=9 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=URM: taivaniečių atstovybė Vilniuje diplomatinio statuso neturės|url=https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/lithuania/urm-taivanieciu-atstovybe-vilniuje-diplomatinio-statuso-netures.d?id=88709599|publisher=Delfi.lt|access-date=9 December 2021}}</ref> and have maintained that it was not in breach of their 1991 recognition of the PRC's ] during their ].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www-delfi-lt.translate.goog/news/daily/lithuania/po-kinijos-priekaistu-lietuvai-simonytes-atsakas-mes-laikomes-sutarties.d?id=88772991&_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=zh-TW |access-date=10 December 2021|title=Po Kinijos priekaištų Lietuvai – Šimonytės atsakas: mes laikomės sutarties}}</ref> However, Beijing disagreed and recalled their ambassador from Vilnius<ref>{{cite web|last1=Aboudouh|first1=Ahmed|title='More bark than bite': How China's reprimand over Taiwan falls on deaf ears in Lithuania|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/china/china-taiwan-lithuania-eu-washington-b1900145.html|publisher=The Independent|access-date=9 December 2021}}</ref> and expelled the Lithuanian ambassador in Beijing.<ref>{{cite web|author=Agence France-Presse|title=Lithuania ambassador leaving China|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2021/08/13/2003762534|website=www.taipeitimes.com|publisher=Taipei Times|access-date=12 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=China downgrades ties with Lithuania over Taiwan |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/21/china-downgrades-ties-with-lithuania-over-taiwan |website=] |access-date=9 December 2021}}</ref> In early January 2022, The Taiwanese Representative Office in Vilnius announced that the Taiwanese government was planning to invest $200 million (USD) into Lithuania's industry and technology sectors later in the year.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-01-05|title=Taiwan to invest $200m in Lithuania to offset Beijing's sanctions|url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1581629/taiwan-to-invest-200m-in-lithuania-to-offset-beijing-s-sanctions|access-date=2022-01-06|website=lrt.lt|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2022-01-06|title=Taiwan setting up $200m Lithuania fund amid China row|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-59890338|access-date=2022-01-06}}</ref>


In August 2022, the Deputy Minister for Transport and Communications ] made a 4-day visit to Taiwan in company with officials of the electro bus market in Lithuania.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Chang |first=Meg |date=2022-08-16 |title=VR China verhängt Sanktionen gegen litauische Politikerin nach Taiwanbesuch |url=https://taiwanheute.tw/news.php?unit=118&post=223733 |access-date=2022-08-19 |website=Taiwan Heute |language=de}}</ref> During the visit she also met Foreign Minister ].<ref name=":1" /> After the visit concluded, China imposed sanctions on Vaiciukevičiūtė.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tian |first=Yew Lun |date=2022-08-13 |title=China sanctions Lithuanian deputy minister for Taiwan visit |language=en |work=] |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china-sanctions-lithuanian-deputy-minister-visiting-taiwan-2022-08-12/ |access-date=2022-08-19}}</ref> In an interview with '']'' in April 2022, ] ] stated that Lithuania does not regret the decision to strengthen its ties with Taiwan. She described relationship between Taiwan and Lithunaia as "vibrant and productive," emphasizing that it was a sovereign decision by Lithuania to enhance its connections with Taiwanese businesses and universities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/4501138|title=Lithuania prime minister has no regrets over Taiwan ties|first=Kelvin|last=Chen|newspaper=Taiwan News|date=2022-04-08|access-date=2024-07-24}}</ref> In an October 2022 interview with '']'', she stated that Lithuania's ties with Taiwan can contribute to significant development in industrial fields such as semiconductors and lasers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Picks/Interview/Lithuania-s-ties-with-Taiwan-will-pay-high-tech-dividends-PM|title=Lithuania's ties with Taiwan will pay high-tech dividends: PM|first=Natsumi|last=Kawasaki|newspaper=Nikkei Asia|date=2022-10-28|access-date=2024-07-24}}</ref> In August 2022, the Deputy Minister for Transport and Communications ] made a 4-day visit to Taiwan in company with officials of the electro bus market in Lithuania.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Chang |first=Meg |date=2022-08-16 |title=VR China verhängt Sanktionen gegen litauische Politikerin nach Taiwanbesuch |url=https://taiwanheute.tw/news.php?unit=118&post=223733 |access-date=2022-08-19 |website=Taiwan Heute |language=de}}</ref> During the visit she also met Foreign Minister ].<ref name=":1" /> After the visit concluded, China imposed sanctions on Vaiciukevičiūtė.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tian |first=Yew Lun |date=2022-08-13 |title=China sanctions Lithuanian deputy minister for Taiwan visit |language=en |work=] |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china-sanctions-lithuanian-deputy-minister-visiting-taiwan-2022-08-12/ |access-date=2022-08-19}}</ref>

In May 2024, ] ] stated in an interview that while he welcomed the establishment of the Taiwanese Representative Office, in the context of normalization of ], there would be a need to change its name. In response to Nausėda's comments, Foreign Minister Wu stated that the office's name that was agreed on in 2021 by the governments of Lithuania and Taiwan, after negotiations and signing of documents. He also further stated that Taiwan had not received any official request for name change and would not accept it even if such request was received.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202405090006|title=Taiwan stands firm on name of representative office in Lithuania|newspaper=Focus Taiwan|first=Joseph|last=Yeh|date=2024-05-09|access-date=2024-05-12}}</ref>

Following the defeat of the ] in the ], the new presumptive Prime Minister ] of the victorious ] vowed to re-establish full diplomatic relations with China. Paluckas described the previous government's decision to open the Taiwanese representative office as a "grave diplomatic mistake", but declined to comment on whether he would ask Taiwan to rename it.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jakučionis |first1=Saulius |title=Lithuania’s presumptive PM vows to restore ties with China |url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2402538/lithuania-s-presumptive-pm-vows-to-restore-ties-with-china |work=lrt.lt |date=31 October 2024 |language=en}}</ref> Taiwanese Foreign Minister ] stated that Taiwan did not oppose Lithuania restoring ties with China, and emphasized that Lithuania could maintain relations with both China and Taiwan.<ref>{{cite news |title=Taiwan does not oppose Lithuania restoring ties with China, says FM |url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2407681/taiwan-does-not-oppose-lithuania-restoring-ties-with-china-says-fm |work=lrt.lt |date=7 November 2024 |language=en}}</ref>


== Trade and cultural cooperation == == Trade and cultural cooperation ==
Line 47: Line 43:
==Aid== ==Aid==
Taiwan donated 100,000 face masks to Lithuania early during the ]. In 2021, Lithuania donated 20,000 and then a further 235,900 doses of the ] to Taiwan. Taiwanese food giant ] donated over 21,000 of its signature puff cookies to Lithuania in gratitude.<ref>{{cite web |title=Taiwan company plans to send puffs to Lithuania following vaccine donation |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/business/202106230016 |website=] |access-date=9 December 2021}}</ref> Taiwan donated 100,000 face masks to Lithuania early during the ]. In 2021, Lithuania donated 20,000 and then a further 235,900 doses of the ] to Taiwan. Taiwanese food giant ] donated over 21,000 of its signature puff cookies to Lithuania in gratitude.<ref>{{cite web |title=Taiwan company plans to send puffs to Lithuania following vaccine donation |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/business/202106230016 |website=] |access-date=9 December 2021}}</ref>

== 2015 Taoyuan incident ==
During the medal ceremony for Lithuanian team in 2015 World Deaf Basketball Championships in ], where they won the final against the ], the organizers of the tournament erroneously played the ] instead of the ], upsetting the Lithuanians. The team, led by coach Algimantas Šatas, was forced to stand in dais during the entirety of the song. Later, the organizers recognized the mistake and apologized.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 8, 2015 |title=Rinktinės treneris apie Lietuvos kurčiųjų rinktinei sugrotą tarybinį himną: klysta visi |url=https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/sportas/10/107995/rinktines-treneris-apie-lietuvos-kurciuju-rinktinei-sugrota-tarybini-himna-klysta-visi |access-date=December 13, 2023 |website=lrt.lt |language=lt}}</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
⚫ * ]
* ] * ]
* ]
* ] * ]
⚫ *]


==References== ==References==

Latest revision as of 13:29, 10 November 2024

Bilateral relations
Taiwan–Lithuania relations
Map indicating locations of Taiwan and Lithuania

Taiwan
Lithuania
Diplomatic mission
Taiwanese Representative Office in LithuaniaLithuanian Trade Representative Office
Envoy
Representative Constance H. WangRepresentative Paulius Lukauskas

Taiwan, officially the Republic of China, does not have official diplomatic relations with Lithuania, since Lithuania does not officially recognize the Republic of China and maintains a One-China Policy whereby it views the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate government representing China. Despite this, relations between Lithuania and Taiwan have grown closer in recent years. In 2021, Taiwan opened the "Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania". Lithuania opened a representative office in Taiwan in 2022. The strengthening of relations between Lithuania and Taiwan has been heavily opposed by the People's Republic of China (PRC), which doesn't recognize Taiwan's effective sovereignty. Notably, the PRC has downgraded its embassy in Lithuania to the status of a "chargé d'affaires" in protest. The PRC and Lithuania had previously maintained full diplomatic relations with one another since 1991.

History

The Republic of China (ROC) and Lithuania established diplomatic relations in 1921, three years after Lithuania's declaration of independence in 1918. The relations continued until the Soviet occupation of the Baltic states in 1940. The ROC did not recognise the Soviet annexation of Lithuania. The ROC lost the vast majority of its territory, namely mainland China, to the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1949 (Chinese Civil War), and it has been limited to the island of Taiwan, formerly a Japanese colony and minor associated islands since the 1950s. Democratic Lithuania and modern-day ROC established unofficial diplomatic relations in 2021, thirty-one years after the restoration of Lithuania's independence in 1990.

In 1991, the PRC and Lithuania established diplomatic relations with one another, one year after the restoration of Lithuania's independence in 1990. Contemporaneously, Lithuania and Taiwan did not have much contact throughout the 1990s and 2000s, with Taiwan's main partner in the Baltic states being Latvia prior to 2021.

Since 2020, Lithuania–Taiwan relations have rapidly warmed, and in April of that year 200 Lithuanian politicians and public figures petitioned the President of Lithuania to support Taiwan's membership in the World Health Organization. These calls were reiterated by the then-foreign minister, Linas Linkevičius, in a direct phone call with the head of the WHO. On 19 June 2020, Taiwanese representative to the Baltic states Andy Chin spoke in the Seimas at the invitation of the opposition Homeland Union, inviting objection from China and marking the highest platform any Taiwanese official had achieved in the Baltic states.

Lithuania's Freedom Party platform has a clause supporting full recognition of the independence of Taiwan (ROC), and in the 2020 Lithuanian parliamentary election, parties sympathetic to Taiwan such as the Homeland Union and Freedom Party entered government and formed a coalition. In 2021, the Lithuania-Taiwan Forum was established by over 50 Lithuanian political figures, most notably Mantas Adomėnas and Gintaras Steponavičius, and it was announced that Lithuania would open a trade office in Taiwan amidst growing discontent with China's "17 + 1" program.

In October 2021, Lithuania's parliament passed a legislative revision that gave the green light to the country to open a representative office in Taiwan. On 18 November 2021, Taiwan opened its de facto embassy, the Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania, in Vilnius. The naming of this office was notable for its use of "Taiwan" in the title rather than Taipei, though Lithuanian officials confirmed that the office would not have diplomatic status and the name would not imply recognition of statehood, and have maintained that it was not in breach of their 1991 recognition of the PRC's One China principle during their establishment of diplomatic relations in 1991. However, Beijing disagreed and recalled their ambassador from Vilnius and expelled the Lithuanian ambassador in Beijing. In early January 2022, The Taiwanese Representative Office in Vilnius announced that the Taiwanese government was planning to invest $200 million (USD) into Lithuania's industry and technology sectors later in the year.

In an interview with The Economist in April 2022, Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrida Šimonytė stated that Lithuania does not regret the decision to strengthen its ties with Taiwan. She described relationship between Taiwan and Lithunaia as "vibrant and productive," emphasizing that it was a sovereign decision by Lithuania to enhance its connections with Taiwanese businesses and universities. In an October 2022 interview with Nikkei Asia, she stated that Lithuania's ties with Taiwan can contribute to significant development in industrial fields such as semiconductors and lasers. In August 2022, the Deputy Minister for Transport and Communications Agnė Vaiciukevičiūtė made a 4-day visit to Taiwan in company with officials of the electro bus market in Lithuania. During the visit she also met Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu. After the visit concluded, China imposed sanctions on Vaiciukevičiūtė.

In May 2024, President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda stated in an interview that while he welcomed the establishment of the Taiwanese Representative Office, in the context of normalization of Lithuania's relations with China, there would be a need to change its name. In response to Nausėda's comments, Foreign Minister Wu stated that the office's name that was agreed on in 2021 by the governments of Lithuania and Taiwan, after negotiations and signing of documents. He also further stated that Taiwan had not received any official request for name change and would not accept it even if such request was received.

Following the defeat of the centre-right coalition in the 2024 Lithuanian parliamentary election, the new presumptive Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas of the victorious Social Democratic Party vowed to re-establish full diplomatic relations with China. Paluckas described the previous government's decision to open the Taiwanese representative office as a "grave diplomatic mistake", but declined to comment on whether he would ask Taiwan to rename it. Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung stated that Taiwan did not oppose Lithuania restoring ties with China, and emphasized that Lithuania could maintain relations with both China and Taiwan.

Trade and cultural cooperation

Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania

Taipei and Vilnius established sister city status on 28 May 1998.

In 2020, Lithuania exported $37.8 million (USD) to Taiwan or 0.07%, and imported $97.3 million, or 0.23%. Lithuanian exports were predominantly tobacco, chemicals, furniture and wood, while Taiwanese exports were mainly in the tech and machinery sector.

In September 2021, Taiwanese official statistics showed that 112,000 credit card transactions from Taiwanese at Lithuanian businesses with a total volume of $86 million (USD), and the Bank of Lithuania observed an increase of 56% from the period from the previous year.

Aid

Taiwan donated 100,000 face masks to Lithuania early during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, Lithuania donated 20,000 and then a further 235,900 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to Taiwan. Taiwanese food giant I-Mei Foods donated over 21,000 of its signature puff cookies to Lithuania in gratitude.

2015 Taoyuan incident

During the medal ceremony for Lithuanian team in 2015 World Deaf Basketball Championships in Taoyuan, Taiwan, where they won the final against the United States, the organizers of the tournament erroneously played the Soviet-era anthem instead of the actual anthem, upsetting the Lithuanians. The team, led by coach Algimantas Šatas, was forced to stand in dais during the entirety of the song. Later, the organizers recognized the mistake and apologized.

See also

References

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