TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Co-chairs of the US Congressional Taiwan Caucus urged Lithuania to continue supporting Taiwan in a joint letter addressed to Lithuania’s leaders and government officials.
In the letter, published Monday, Mario Diaz-Balart, Ami Bera, Andy Barr, and Greg Stanton said that amid Chinese intimidation, the US and Lithuania have partnered to protect freedom and democracy in the Western Hemisphere and the Indo-Pacific. The two countries “have stood together to support a free and democratic Taiwan,” they added.
In February, China said it was willing to resume dialogue with Lithuania if it returned to the “one China principle.” Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene told Baltic News Service earlier that month that her government had begun taking “small first steps” to restore relations with Beijing. She said Lithuania had misjudged the consequences of allowing Taiwan to open an office.
The lawmakers praised Lithuania’s withdrawal from China’s 17+1 framework in 2022 and its efforts to persuade other Baltic nations to follow suit. “Lithuania has always been a strong leader among the European Union countries in opposing autocratic influences,” they said, citing the 2021 opening of the Taiwanese Representative Office in Vilnius.
The lawmakers called on Lithuania “to consider the importance of maintaining relationships with those that share our democratic values.” They pointed out that China is helping Russia’s war effort against Ukraine.
“For these reasons, we respectfully urge you to continue the courageous path of maintaining your substantive relationship with Taiwan, which has been a trusted and reliable partner of our respective countries for decades,” they said.
Taiwan and Lithuania resumed talks last month on an economic cooperation action plan following a change in government in Lithuania. Lithuania’s foreign ministry said it is focused on bolstering economic cooperation with Taiwan and hopes to finalize the action plan as soon as possible, per Lithuania’s LRT.
Taiwan Envoy Constance Wang (王雪虹) and Lithuanian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidmantas Verbickas discussed the plan in April. The agreement covers semiconductors, the defense industry, technology, science and innovation, finance, agriculture, and cooperation projects in Ukraine.
