Lawmakers urge caution on restoring ties with China

Lawmakers have urged Lithuania not to rush to normalise relations with China and to keep that process separate from economic cooperation with Taiwan, LRT reported after a closed-door meeting of the Seimas Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday.

Committee chair Remigijus Motuzas said Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys would brief the committee before and after each round of talks with Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China. He said members agreed that restoring relations with China and strengthening economic cooperation with Taiwan should be treated as separate processes.

“The government programme seeks to restore diplomatic relations. But restoring diplomatic relations does not mean moving closer politically,” Motuzas said.

Committee deputy chair Žygimantas Pavilionis criticised the Foreign Ministry over its actions concerning the name of the Taiwanese Representative Office in Vilnius. He said the minister should have consulted lawmakers before taking such initiatives. Pavilionis said Lithuania should not rush to normalise relations with Beijing while security and economic threats from China remain.

Conservative MP Emanuelis Zingeris also warned against treating the restoration of ties as a diplomatic formality. He said China could influence Lithuanian society and argued that Lithuania should consider Beijing’s support for Russia and its influence on Western countries.

Pavilionis said Lithuania should focus on practical results in economic cooperation with Taiwan, including an agreement to avoid double taxation and increased investment, rather than changing the representative office’s name. He said Lithuanian businesses operating in Taiwan currently pay taxes twice.

Zingeris said the office’s name should not be changed and called for broader economic ties with Taiwan.