Motuzas doubts Taiwan will rename Vilnius representative office

Lithuania has not officially asked Taiwan to change the name of its representative office in Vilnius, and Taiwan is unlikely to initiate such a move, Remigijus Motuzas, chairman of the Seimas Foreign Affairs Committee, told BNS, according to LRT.

“We maintain contacts and discuss the fact that this issue is becoming increasingly relevant, but as far as I know, no expectation has been expressed to the Taiwanese state that it should change the name,” Motuzas said.

He said Taiwan had chosen and registered the name itself, meaning that only Taiwan could change it.

Motuzas said he did not expect Taipei to initiate a change because the issue had become a matter of political principle. He also noted that the office was not a diplomatic mission but a trade office involved in commercial and economic relations.

BNS reported that Aurelijus Veryga, leader of the Farmers and Greens Union, said on Wednesday that he hoped Taiwan would itself initiate a change to the name of its representative office in Lithuania as Lithuania seeks to normalise relations with China.

Lithuania and Taiwan have resumed talks on an action plan for economic cooperation, with Taipei saying its commitment to cooperation remains unchanged. Lithuania had expected a breakthrough in economic ties with Taiwan after the office opened in Vilnius in 2021, but Lithuanian officials have recently criticised Taipei for insufficient investment.

The opening of the office damaged Lithuania’s relations with China, which viewed it as support for Taiwan’s efforts to act as an independent state. Similar offices in other countries operate under the name Taipei.

Motuzas said the office’s name was only one of the obstacles to normalising relations with Beijing. He said Lithuania also needed to raise issues including economic relations and ensuring consular assistance for Lithuanian citizens.