The top diplomats of the United States and Lithuania have released a joint statement to strengthen the Baltic state’s economic ties with Taiwan. They released the statement on Monday in a Washington meeting.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis say they support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations. They add that they will continue to resist the economic threat from China.
This was the third time that Blinken and Landsbergis have met in the past two years. China has been putting economic pressure on Lithuania for setting up a representative office in Taiwan in 2021.
Blinken praised Lithuania’s efforts to resist Chinese threats, calling it a model for other countries. At the same time, Landsbergis thanked Washington for supporting Lithuania and turning Beijing’s coercion into economic opportunities.
The two sides issued a joint statement outlining their concerns about China’s economic coercion and provocative actions in the Taiwan Strait that undermine the status quo. The statement also stressed that the United States and Lithuania need to work together to defend a rules-based international order.
