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Gitana Nauseda: "It was the name that was not coordinated with me"
Photo: Konstantin Sazonchik / imago images / ITAR-TASS
Lithuania's President has described the opening of the Taiwanese representation under his own name in Vilnius as a "mistake".
“I don't think opening the Taiwanese office was a mistake.
It was the name that was not coordinated with me, ”Gitanas Nauseda told the radio station Ziniu radijas on Tuesday.
"The name of the office has become a key factor that is now heavily influencing our relationship with China."
EU member Lithuania enabled Taiwan to open a de facto embassy called "Taiwan's Representative Office" in November, despite pressure from Beijing.
China then downgraded diplomatic relations with Vilnius.
Lithuania hopes for support from the EU
Lithuanian companies that do business with China or are involved in supply chains with the People's Republic are already facing trade restrictions.
Representatives of Lithuania described the procedure as "unannounced sanctions". President Nauseda spoke of "unconventional measures". Lithuania must "send a clear signal to the European Union that this is an attack on an EU member state".
After decades of pressure from Beijing, only a few countries officially recognize Taiwan as a state.
Recently, however, other Eastern European countries such as the Czech Republic and Slovakia had moved closer to Taipei again despite China's protests.
Lithuania also plans to open its own trade office in Taiwan in the coming months.
Tensions between Beijing and Taipei had increased significantly in the past few months.
Beijing is threatening to unite the democratically governed island with the communist mainland by force if necessary.
The protective power of the USA is behind the government in Taipei.
height / AFP