TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Following weeks of debate in Lithuania about the name of Taiwan’s representative office, President Gitanas Nauseda said Thursday that it was up to Taiwan to decide what the name should be.

After Taiwan opened its office in Vilnius with the name “Taiwanese Representative Office” in 2021, China targeted the Baltic nation with diplomatic and economic sanctions. The new prime minister, Inga Ruginiene, said Wednesday the name could be changed to “Taipei Representative Office” without too many problems, per UDN.

In an interview with national broadcaster LRT, Nauseda said that since the office belonged to Taiwan, and not to Lithuania, it was not up to Lithuania to decide what the name should be. Taiwan should decide, he said.

The president added that Lithuania could start a discussion with Taiwan about the name, but that Taiwan could refuse, leaving the name of its office unchanged.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned China’s demand for a name change as a form of bullying and brainwashing. Beijing said it would open talks about restoring a normal level of relations with Lithuania if the country “rectified its error” and returned to the “one China principle.”