Can Taiwan offset China as a serious trade partner of Lithuania?
India Today
Lithuanian exports have allegedly been blocked by China owing to the European country allowing Taiwan to set up an embassy office on its land bearing the name of Taiwan and not Chinese Taipei.
Call it a case of “enemy’s enemy is my friend” or “diplomatic opportunism or solidarity”, but Taiwan is now looking to offset China in becoming a serious trade partner of Lithuania. Lithuanian exports have allegedly been blocked by China owing to the European country allowing Taiwan to set up an embassy office on its land bearing the name of Taiwan and not Chinese Taipei, which has further ruffled feathers of the Chinese establishment. #Taiwan & #Lithuania are wasting no time in deepening ties. Preparations for the #Baltic state's representative office in Taiwan are on track & close to completion. Our thanks to @ArmonaiteA, @Jovita_Pra & the Ministry of Economy & Innovation for the strong support. ( CNA) pic.twitter.com/GWdvFKG6zK Changing name of #Taiwanese office would a huge mistake. Huge.1st: #Lithuania would lose credibility for years.2nd: giving in to coercion ALWAYS encourages the bully.3rd: we do not betray our friends.True face of #PRC is revealed. Shall we hold. #together
While this is a serious case of coldness for China, it is not the only thing that has irked the CCP. In May 2021, Lithuania pulled out of the China and Central and Eastern European (CEE) 17+1 mechanism, a group founded in 2012 with an aim to expand cooperation between Beijing and the Central and Eastern European (CEE) member countries, with investments and trade for the development of the CEE region.