Lithuanian President: China Ties Should Not Hinge on Taiwan Office Name

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda says efforts to normalize relations with China should not depend on the name of Taiwan’s representative office in his country. Beijing downgraded diplomatic relations with Vilnius after the office opened in 2021 with “Taiwanese” in its name rather than “Taipei,” the designation preferred by China. There are currently no accredited Chinese diplomats in Lithuania. A new government took office in Lithuania in July and has been seeking to improve ties with China while maintaining good relations with Taiwan. Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius has said he hopes for a breakthrough in relations with Beijing by the end of the year.