Lithuanian ministry urges Taiwan to rename Vilnius office

Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry has urged Taiwan to change the name of its representative office in Vilnius, according to Delfi, which was cited by LRT.

The ministry’s representatives gave the office’s head, Constance H. Wang, an informal document setting out the request at a meeting on September 24. Deputy Foreign Minister Vidmantas Verbickas and diplomat Ričardas Šlepavičius also attended, Delfi reported.

The document said the office’s current name was hindering economic ties between the two sides and called for it to be changed by October 1. In return, Taiwan was offered a bilateral agreement on investment prospects and talks on a trade-facilitation agreement to avoid double taxation. The document also raised the possibility of the Foreign Ministry creating a special envoy post for Taiwan affairs.

The Taiwanese representative office opened in 2021, with plans announced to develop cooperation and attract substantial investment to Lithuania. According to the Economy and Innovation Ministry, Taiwanese direct investment flows have since increased significantly, but the total remains modest.

The office’s opening sharply worsened relations between Vilnius and Beijing. China regards Taiwan as a province and says it cannot establish representative offices in countries with which China maintains official relations. China imposed strict diplomatic and economic sanctions on Lithuania over its decision to open the office.