Lithuania in talks with China to restore diplomatic relations

Lithuania is currently in discussions with China to restore diplomatic relations, Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė confirmed on Thursday, though no concrete actions have been taken yet.

“At present, there are talks, but no concrete actions are being taken,” Ruginienė told the Seimas in response to a question from MP Žygimantas Pavilionis.

She neither confirmed nor denied a claim by Remigijus Motuzas, chair of the Seimas Foreign Affairs Committee, that Lithuania had agreed to allow China to open a chargé d’affaires office in Vilnius. Ruginienė emphasized that the government is implementing its program’s goal to restore diplomatic representation with China to the level seen in other EU member states.

Lithuania does not seek friendship with China, she said, but diplomatic representation would help resolve practical bilateral issues, such as citizen travel.

The dispute between Beijing and Vilnius escalated in autumn 2021 after Lithuania allowed Taiwan to open a representative office in the capital under the name “Taiwanese.” China viewed this as Lithuania supporting Taiwan’s efforts to act as an independent state. In other countries, such offices operate under the name “Taipei.”

In response, China unilaterally downgraded diplomatic representation from ambassadors to chargé d’affaires level, renaming its embassy in Lithuania as the “Chargé d’Affaires Office” and doing the same for Lithuania’s representation in Beijing. Lithuania, refusing to recognize such offices, declined to issue new accreditations to Chinese diplomats seeking to work at the Chargé d’Affaires Office. As a result, no Chinese diplomats have remained in Lithuania since May of last year.

On Wednesday, Motuzas told Žinių Radijas that Lithuania and China had already agreed on consular assistance, and a representative from Beijing was expected to visit Vilnius for further negotiations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Thursday that it could not confirm Motuzas’ claim that Lithuania had agreed to China opening a chargé d’affaires office in Vilnius.

“Currently, a dialogue is being conducted with the People’s Republic of China. The negotiations are at a sensitive stage, so the ministry cannot comment on the process at this time,” the ministry said in a statement to BNS.

The ministry added that it is in dialogue with China’s foreign ministry regarding the conditions and possibilities for accrediting diplomats in Vilnius and Beijing.

“Lithuania has submitted specific proposals for the restoration of diplomatic missions’ operations and remains open to dialogue, guided by international law, standard diplomatic practice, and national legislation,” the statement read.

The ministry also emphasized that Lithuania adheres to the One China policy, does not recognize Taiwan’s independence, and has not established diplomatic relations with it, as stipulated in the 1991 joint statement with China.