Lithuanian PM Admits Misjudgement on Taiwanese Representative Office

(MENAFN) Lithuania’s Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene has acknowledged that permitting a so-called “Taiwanese representative office” to open in Vilnius was a serious misjudgment.

China sharply downgraded diplomatic relations with Lithuania after the office was established in 2021, viewing it as a de facto Taiwanese embassy. Beijing said the move violated the One-China principle, a widely recognized diplomatic framework under which Taiwan is considered part of China.

“Lithuania really jumped in front of a train and lost,” Ruginiene said in an interview on Tuesday.

She explained that most other European countries avoided damaging their ties with Beijing by coordinating their approach with China and opting for the title ‘Taipei Representative Office’ rather than using the term ‘Taiwanese’.

According to Ruginiene, Vilnius has begun making limited efforts to restore relations, a process she described as difficult “after completely severing ties.” She added that Lithuania must also “balance” its relationship with China alongside its commitments to the European Union and the United States.

Diplomatic relations between Vilnius and Beijing have remained strained for several years, with the last officially accredited Chinese diplomats leaving Lithuania in May of last year.

China has signaled a willingness to reengage in dialogue. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said during a press briefing on Friday that Beijing remains open to discussions when asked about the possibility of rebuilding diplomatic relations.

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