Lithuanian President Nausėda recently suggested renaming the “Taiwan Representative Office in Lithuania” to “Taipei” to maintain stable relations with China, sparking discussions on the issue. However, Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joseph Wu, stated on the 9th that the name of the representative office involves agreements between governments and there are currently no changes planned.
In November 2021, Taiwan officially established the “Taiwan Representative Office in Lithuania” in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius. According to recent reports in Lithuanian media, President Nausėda proposed renaming the office from “Taiwan” to “Taipei” to ensure stability in relations with China.
Minister Wu, in a radio interview in the morning, explained that the establishment of the Taiwan Representative Office was the result of official consultations between Taiwan and Lithuania, a discussion between governments. Lithuania, being a democratic country, has had some debates regarding the office’s name, but even opposition parties in Lithuania believe that the name of the Taiwan Representative Office should remain unchanged, with some who were previously against it now recognizing Taiwan as a reliable partner.
Wu further pointed out that Lithuania operates under a cabinet system and will hold parliamentary elections in August. The opposition has shown a significant shift from questioning in the past to now being very supportive of Taiwan relations. Wu emphasized that if any changes were to be made to the name of the representative office, it would require negotiations with Taiwan and there are currently no plans for alteration. He expressed confidence that the relationship between Taiwan and Lithuania will remain stable without any issues.
In response to this, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Liu Yongjian stated during a routine press conference on the 9th that Lithuania is currently in the midst of a presidential election, and differing opinions being expressed within the country is a normal part of the democratic process. The Ministry respects these views, but emphasized that the name of the Taiwan Representative Office in Lithuania is a consensus between the two governments, reached after careful negotiations. Taiwan’s representative office in Lithuania will not be renamed, as the name was the result of bilateral negotiations and official agreements. Any changes would also require discussions and agreement from both sides.