[International] Lithuania May Allow China to Establish a 'Provisional Diplomatic Mission', Foreign Minister Does Not Confirm
B
bellala 央廣＠＠4h ago
The Chairman of the Lithuanian Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Žygimantas Pavilionis, recently stated that Lithuania agreed to China establishing a 'provisional diplomatic mission' at this stage. Lithuanian National Radio and Television reported that Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis did not confirm this, and the Vice-Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee criticized the move as acknowledging a reduction in national status.
Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) reported that regarding this matter, Gabrielius Landsbergis (Kestutis Budrys) stated in an interview at the parliament on the 18th that the government has notified relevant agencies of diplomatic actions according to procedures and has maintained communication with the President, Prime Minister, and parliamentary leadership, but specific methods are inconvenient to disclose.
He stated that the government's position is clear: it hopes to restore diplomatic cooperation with China, but "diplomacy is inherently cautious and confidential," and excessive public discussion is detrimental to progress.
At the end of 2021, Lithuania allowed Taiwan to establish a representative office in the capital, Vilnius, named "Taiwan," which angered China. China subsequently imposed diplomatic and economic sanctions on Lithuania, unilaterally downgrading bilateral diplomatic relations to the level of chargé d'affaires and recalling its ambassador to Lithuania.
Chinese diplomats later applied for new diplomatic credentials under the name of a 'provisional diplomatic mission,' but Lithuania did not recognize it and refused to issue them, resulting in no Chinese diplomats in Lithuania from May 2025 onwards.
Žygimantas Pavilionis previously stated in a radio interview that Lithuania had previously rejected China's proposals to establish a 'provisional diplomatic mission,' but has now changed its stance and is willing to agree at this stage.
However, according to LRT reports, the Vice-Chairman of the Lithuanian Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Žygimantas Pavilionis (also translated as Žygimantas Pavilionis), criticized the move, pointing out that agreeing to establish a 'provisional diplomatic mission' could be seen as acknowledging a reduction in Lithuania's status and stated that the relevant issue had not been discussed by the committee.
Žygimantas Pavilionis also questioned the rationality of Lithuania shifting its focus to China amidst Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, and warned that Beijing might make further demands, such as closing the Taiwan representative office, or even affecting Lithuania's cooperation with democratic countries in the Indo-Pacific.
LRT reported that Žygimantas Pavilionis later clarified that it was not about establishing an 'office' but a diplomatic representative institution led by a Chargé d'affaires ad interim, operating on the principle of reciprocity and not constituting an humiliation to Lithuania.
Currently, Lithuania and China have been engaged in dialogue on related issues for about two years. The report stated that Žygimantas Pavilionis emphasized that Lithuania has no intention of changing the name or closing the Taiwan representative office, but admitted that the relevant negotiations are quite sensitive.
LRT reported that Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda stated that he expects at least a return to normal diplomatic representative operations with China, but does not anticipate the relationship between the two sides becoming intimate. (Editor: Shen Zhenjiang)
Source Link: https://www.rti.org.tw/news?uid=3&pid=215680
How does this article make you feel?
0 people reacted