“The current Lithuanian government, including the President, continues the practice of squabbling with those around it, started by the Landsbergis’ clan, which is causing enormous losses to the Lithuanian economy and the well-being of the population. We buy Chinese goods, which are abundant in trade, from Poles, Latvians, Estonians, where a significant part of the money is deposited, but the Prime Minister is already speaking correctly about China: Lithuania itself jumped in front of the train and lost.”

 

“Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė says that by opening a representative office in the name of the Taiwanese in Vilnius, Lithuania “jumped in front of the train and lost” because it did not coordinate its actions with the European Union (EU) and the US.

 

“I think that Lithuania actually jumped in front of the train itself and lost,” the Head of Government said in an interview with BNS on Tuesday.

 

According to the Prime Minister, although Taiwanese representative offices are also open in other European countries, they opened their doors “after normal coordination and choosing the name ‘Taipei Representative Office.’”

 

“And those relations (of other countries – BNS) somehow remained completely businesslike with China, but (...) it was probably a huge mistake for Lithuania that it seemed to us that if we propose something ourselves and do something first, then suddenly the world will appreciate it. Well, we tried in this case, we have a Taiwanese representation, but the world did not appreciate it, no one appreciated it,” said I. Ruginienė.

 

In her opinion, the best tactic in relations with China is a unified European position.

 

“If we are building certain relations or plans, we must look at the interests of our country and that should be number one (priority – BNS), what is beneficial to our country and people. (...) If it is not beneficial to our country and people, why do we need to run away from the entire European Union, to run along a path that leads nowhere? That is exactly what this example showed that different tactics are needed in international relations,” the Prime Minister said.

 

This example showed that different tactics are needed in international relations.

 

As BNS reported, for the past few years Vilnius and Beijing have been at odds over how to restore diplomatic representation in both countries after a dispute over the name of the Taiwanese mission.

 

Since mid-May last year, there have been no accredited Chinese diplomats or other staff members in Lithuania.

 

In June, then-Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas mentioned that a proposal to restore relations had been submitted to China, but no response had been received to date.

 

After the change of government, the program of I. Ruginienė's cabinet included the aim of "restoring diplomatic relations with China to the diplomatic level that exists in other European Union countries."

 

“That turning back the clock is a very complicated process. If we manage to reconcile certain elements, on a technical level, little by little, as we have set out in our program, we really see an opportunity to normalize relations. This does not mean that we will immediately fall into each other’s arms,” said I. Ruginienė.

 

According to the Prime Minister, Lithuania is currently taking “the first small steps” in talking with China, correspondence is taking place, but in trying to normalize relations with Beijing, Vilnius must coordinate its actions with the EU and the US.

 

“We must see ourselves in the context of a larger entity and together make decisions that will benefit Lithuania specifically. (...) Having spoiled things like this, having completely severed ties and relations, a very complicated and long path must be taken to normalize them,” said the Prime Minister.

 

“This is related to both the balancing of relations and our strategic partners, America and the European Union. It is very difficult to rebuild what has been destroyed, but we are gradually moving towards not being enemies, but at least having more normal technical business relations,” she said.

 

As BNS reported, President Gitanas Nausėda, for his part, says that restoring relations with China requires the will of both states, but Lithuania sees the threats of too close cooperation with the communist regime.

 

In an interview with Žinių radijas broadcast on Tuesday, the head of state said that, similarly to the case of Belarus, “the Chinese government is an enabler of Russia’s actions in Ukraine,” and excessive dependence on China has repeatedly caused many problems for Europe.”