According to the global network quoted by the island media on August 18, the Lithuanian government has officially announced that the Lithuanian "Trade Representative Office in Taipei" plans to start operations in September this year, and Paulius Lukaskas, who is currently serving as an adviser to Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simone, has been appointed as the head of the "Lithuanian Trade Representative Office in Taipei".
Lithuania said that the "Trade Representative Office in Taiwan" will be based on promoting Lithuania's economic ties with Southeast Asia and deepening exchanges and cooperation with all parties in the future. Taiwan's foreign affairs department also said that it expects the "Trade Representative Office in Taiwan" to play a role in economy, trade, industry, education, science and technology as soon as possible.
On 26 March this year, Taiwan's foreign affairs department confirmed that it had received an application from the Lithuanian authorities to set up an "economic and trade office" in Taiwan. As long as the relevant procedures are completed, the "office" can be officially established.
In early August, after Pelosi's channeling was over, Lithuanian Parliament Speaker Victoria Chimilit told reporters that Lithuania planned to open a so-called "trade representative office" in Taiwan in September, when Lithuania should send a senior official to Taiwan.
But this time Lithuania is clearly a little smarter than last time. He named the "Economic and Trade Office" "Trade Representative Office in Taipei" instead of "Trade Representative Office in Taiwan". Although it is only a word difference, the meaning is absolutely different. A Lithuanian government official told reporters: "It will be a commercial, not a diplomatic representation. ”
Last year, Lithuania asked the Taiwan authorities to set up a "Taiwan representative office" in its capital instead of calling it a "Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office" as other countries do, which violated the one-China principle and was opposed by China. For this reason, Lithuania's exports of goods to China were seriously resisted, and the rum that Lithuania was preparing to export to China was forced to divert at sea and sell them in Taiwan. For this reason, the people of Taiwan expressed a strong dissatisfaction with Tsai Ing-wen's move, and ridiculed the Tsai authorities for "wanting everything." Lithuania's move sets a bad precedent.
It is worth noting that the volume of trade between Lithuania and Taiwan is very small. According to import and export-related data, the trade data of Taiwan and Lithuania from January to April this year was about 60 million US dollars. Lithuania's exports to Taiwan have increased significantly since last year's Chinese mainland boycott, with Lithuanian exports to Taiwan up 63 percent more than ever, according to figures from the first quarter of this year.
In this context, Lithuanian security expert Laurinavicius said that Lithuania's annual exports to Taiwan are expected to reach a scale of 300 million euros. Previously Chinese mainland trade with Lithuania reached more than $2 billion. Theoretically, for this 300 million euros, is there a "trade representative office" in the Taiwan region?
The Lithuanian government claimed that the "Trade Representative Office in Taiwan" will be based on promoting Lithuania's economic ties with Southeast Asia in the future. If he is considering trade with Southeast Asian countries, he should go to Southeast Asia to set up relevant departments, so why should he be located in Taiwan?
Therefore, Lithuania's establishment of the "Trade Representative Office in Taiwan" in Taiwan is probably still to show its loyalty to the United States and show its determination to follow the United States in resisting China. It is worth noting that after Pelosi channeled the platform, Lithuania immediately followed the pace and also sent an official delegation headed by the Minister of Transport to the platform to support Pelosi. The speaker of the Lithuanian Parliament, Victoria Chimilit, even retweeted Pelosi's social media campaign and touted it.
I have to say that when the younger brother does this, I am afraid that the United States will be moved to tears, and the "Five Eyes Alliance" countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia are not comparable.
Therefore, Lithuania's establishment of the "Trade Representative Office in Taiwan" in Taiwan is probably still aimed at further currying favor with the United States. In addition, this may also mean that Lithuania is ready to "go all the way to black" and expand trade with the Taiwan region by setting up this representative office, it seems that Lithuania is ready to abandon the Chinese market, not ready to correct its previous mistakes, and make up for its previous losses through trade with the Taiwan region.