TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The issue of the name for Taiwan’s representative office in Lithuania was settled when it was opened, with the reopening of the debate only likely to force its closure, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said Tuesday.

Quoted by national broadcaster LRT, he said the office was resolved years ago, at its opening in 2021. He described it as an achievement for Taiwan, as “a stake they drove into the ground.”

Bringing the issue up again could have two results, either continuing with the existing name, or forcing the closure of the Taiwan office, according to Nauseda. Lithuania wanted to maintain pragmatic relations with both Taiwan and China, and would not accept pressure from Beijing, he added.

The president’s remarks came after Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene told newspaper Lrytas in an interview published Monday that Nauseda had agreed that the office could be renamed “Taipei Representative Office.” The president said she should not comment on statements from a private meeting, adding that any name change would have to be approved by both Taiwan and Lithuania.

Nauseda said he had asked Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys to work on improving economic cooperation with Taiwan, as Lithuania had not achieved enough in the wake of the office openings.