Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania
The Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania[1] (Chinese: 駐立陶宛台灣代表處; Lithuanian: Taivano atstovybė Lietuvoje) is the representative office of Taiwan responsible for the development of relations with Lithuania. As Lithuania has not established official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the mission does not have diplomatic status but can be considered as a de facto embassy.[2] It is Taiwan's first representative office with "Taiwan" instead of "Taipei" in its title in a European country without official relations with Taiwan, and the first such office in the world that uses the adjective "Taiwanese".
Chinese: 駐立陶宛台灣代表處 Lithuanian: Taivano atstovybė Lietuvoje | |
Agency overview | |
---|---|
Formed | 18 November 2021 |
Jurisdiction | Lithuania |
Headquarters | Vilnius, Lithuania |
Agency executive |
|
Website | www.roc-taiwan.org/lt |
In response to its opening, the People's Republic of China (PRC), which sees Taiwan as part of its territory, has imposed a series of sanctions on Lithuania in retaliation.[3]
History
Closer relations between Lithuania and Taiwan began to develop more actively after 2020 at the end of the Seimas elections. The agreement of the ruling coalition set out to increase support for Taiwan.[4] Gabrielius Landsbergis, the new Minister of Foreign Affairs announced discussions on the Lithuanian business representative office in Taiwan, and a few months later on plans to open a Taiwanese representative office in Lithuania.[5]
Present
Eric Huang, head of Taiwan's representative office in Lithuania, has announced that Taiwan will create an investment of 200 million USD fund, which will be used for investments in the Lithuanian industry. And the country has already announced that it has taken over or promises to take over 120 sea containers with Lithuanian goods that China did not allow to enter mainland China.[6]
Heads
Heads of the Taiwanese Representative office in Vilnius:
- Eric Huang (黃鈞耀), since November 18, 2021.
See also
References
- "Taiwan representation opens in Vilnius". lrt.lt. November 18, 2021.
- "Taiwan to open de-facto embassy in Lithuania under own name". euronews. July 20, 2021.
- "'Taiwanese' office in Lithuania opens". Taiwan News. November 18, 2021.
- Beniušis, Vaidotas. "Vaidotas Beniušis: Kaip Lietuva tapo Kinijos taikiniu". 15min.lt.
- "Dar vienas niuksas Kinijai: Taivanas steigia atstovybę Lietuvoje". 15min.lt.
- "Taiwan to invest $200m in Lithuania to offset Beijing's sanctions". lrt.lt. January 5, 2022.