Lithuania Warns of China Ties

(MENAFN) Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda stated on Tuesday that his country perceives dangers in maintaining "overly close" interaction with China, while at the same time emphasizing that repairing bilateral ties would require readiness and cooperation from both parties.

Speaking to a radio, Nauseda said, according to a public broadcaster, that "Lithuania sees all the risks associated with overly close engagement with the Chinese regime," underlining Vilnius’ cautious stance toward Beijing.

He added that the Lithuanian side is dissatisfied with the current state of affairs, noting that "diplomatic relations are practically nonexistent" following Lithuania’s decision to strengthen its relationship with Taiwan.

Nauseda pointed out that bilateral contacts have been reduced to a minimum level, stressing that "They have been downgraded to a very low level, but for those relations to be restored, there has to be willingness from both states."

Turning to the broader European context, the president remarked that the continent’s reliance on China has repeatedly generated challenges, calling on the European Union to "clearly and precisely" articulate its position toward Beijing.

He further argued that adopting a mixed perception of China has proven confusing, saying, "It is not possible to assess it in a way that for some time was very popular -- seeing China simultaneously as an economic partner, a competitor and a strategic adversary. When those three roles appear, it is easy to get lost among them," Nauseda explained.

MENAFN03022026000045017167ID1110687952