Conflict between Lithuania and China: The Taiwanese Rum Coup

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The Taiwanese trading company is said to have bought Lithuanian rum, which was actually intended for China - and is apparently promoting the sale (symbol image)

Photo: Jonathan Knowles / Getty Images

The Taiwanese trading company Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corp (TTL) brought Beijing a minor defeat.

According to a report by the BBC, she bought 20,000 bottles of Lithuanian rum that was supposed to be shipped to China.

The trading company apparently received a tip from the Ministry of Finance that Chinese authorities are blocking imports.

Not really a big deal, after all, a load like that doesn't last forever.

But the TTL still uses the opportunity extensively to celebrate the coup and to annoy its big neighbors a bit.

In a small campaign, she is promoting that customers order a bottle or two before the end of January if possible.

Then the official sale of the rum begins.

The Taiwanese authorities also provide suggestions on what to do with the rum: recipes for a "Dark and Stormy" cocktail, for example, a rum-soaked "French toast", or hot chocolate with a shot.

However, the background to buying rum is serious.

Because it goes back to the dispute over the quasi-recognition of Taiwan by Lithuania.

The EU country had agreed to the opening of a diplomatic mission, which, from the point of view of the government in Beijing, amounts to recognizing Taiwan as a state and is therefore in no way acceptable.

According to Lithuanian sources, China is flexing its economic muscles in the dispute.

Business associations complained that the import of goods from Lithuania was being blocked and that the Baltic country was no longer listed in the Chinese customs system.

In addition to rum, Taiwan could in future take on other loads of goods that are not permitted for import into China.

The country also plans to set up a $ 200 million mutual fund in Lithuania.

"We hope that the first investments will be made this year," said Eric Huang, head of the Taiwanese representation in Vilnius.

mik / hej