Dovile Šakalienė awarded by Taiwan’s foreign ministry

Dovile Šakalienė, a former Lithuanian defence minister and current parliamentarian, has been awarded a Goodwill Diplomacy Medal by Taiwan’s foreign minister Lin Chia-lung for her contributions to bilateral relations.

The award recognises her role in developing Lithuania’s first cooperation strategy with India and the Indo-Pacific region in security and defence, as well as her support for establishing the Taiwanese representative office in Vilnius. The office’s opening in 2021 led to tensions with China, which has since urged Lithuania to correct what Beijing calls “mistakes” in its Taiwan policy to restore normal bilateral relations.

In a statement released by Taiwan’s foreign ministry, Lin Chia-lung highlighted Šakalienė’s efforts in strengthening democratic ties and supporting Taiwan’s international presence. The medal was presented during her visit to the island, where she met Vice-President Bi-khim Hsiao and former President Tsai Ing-wen.

Speaking on social media, Šakalienė emphasised the importance of resilience and partnerships over compromise in countering authoritarian expansion. “Taiwan’s experience today is important for all who choose resilience over illusion,” she wrote.

Lithuania’s government has stated its aim to restore diplomatic relations with China to the level seen in other EU member states, with Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė recently calling the opening of the Taiwanese office unhelpful.