TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Lithuania Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte affirmed her support for Lithuania-Taiwan relations during an interview with The Economist on Thursday (April 7).

“I don’t regret the decision to strengthen our ties with Taiwan. I think it has been quite vibrant and productive,” Simonyte said. "This was a sovereign decision by a sovereign country to strengthen its ties with Taiwanese businesses and universities.”

Taiwan opened its representative office in Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius, in November. Lithuania’s representative office in Taiwan will likely open in the first half of the year, Lithuanian Minister of Economy and Innovation Ausrine Armonaite said recently.

China, angered by the warming ties between the two countries, has downgraded its diplomatic relations with Lithuania and blocked Lithuanian exports and products from other European countries containing parts from the Baltic nation.

The prime minister said China’s reaction was “unsurprisingly strong” and that its actions against European companies are considered unacceptable not only by Lithuania but also by other European nations and institutions. She said that Lithuania has taken the issue to the World Trade Organization via the EU.