President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda sparked outrage after suggesting the name of the Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania be changed to stabilize relations with China should he be re-elected. The office was inaugurated in 2021 and is the first in Europe with “Taiwan” in the name.
The Foreign Ministry spoke out on Wednesday, stating that the current name is a bilateral consensus and carefully calculated decision. The ministry says it respects the opinions expressed by all parties during democratic presidential elections, yet hopes that the two nations can continue to strengthen their democratic partnership. Taiwan and Lithuania have succeeded in programs such as those relating to semiconductors, lasers, agriculture, finance, and healthcare.
Lithuania’s relationship with China soured following the opening of the Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania when Beijing downgraded diplomatic relations with the Lithuanian capital Vilnius and imposed a de facto embargo on imports.
Presidential candidate and current Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonyte stated that it would be unwise and useless for Lithuania to force a name change. She pointed out that the current name was publicly endorsed by Nausėda during a recent foreign policy debate, therefore a sudden change in position is surprising and difficult to understand.
The Foreign Ministry stated that Taiwan will continue working with Lithuania and other international allies, demonstrating the resilience and unity democratic unions have in response to authoritarian expansion and threats that undermine peace and stability.