Chinese State Media Urges Lithuania to Learn a Harsh Lesson from Its Punishment

Changing the Name of the Lithuania Taiwan Representative Office Won't Improve Bilateral Relations
China's Stubbornness Likely to Continue Despite Sending Largest Ever Winter Olympic Delegation

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] Chinese state media made it clear that simply changing the name of Taiwan's representative office would not improve relations with China and that there is no intention to improve relations with Lithuania.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

China downgraded diplomatic relations to the level of charg? d'affaires after the Lithuanian government approved a proposal last November to change the name of Taiwan's "Taipei Representative Office" to "Taiwan Representative Office (Embassy-level)." Subsequently, the Chinese Embassy in Lithuania temporarily suspended consular services, applying diplomatic pressure.

The state-run Global Times cited overseas media reports on the 27th, stating that the Lithuanian government is discussing revising the name of the Taiwan representative office to resolve conflicts with China. However, the media reported that Taiwan authorities denied this, and local Lithuanian media also said that there is no discussion about changing the name of the Taiwan representative office.

Nevertheless, the Global Times firmly stated that even if Lithuania changes the name of the Taiwan representative office, bilateral relations cannot stabilize.

The Global Times quoted pro-government scholars, arguing that since Lithuania has violated the "One China" principle, it must correct all mistakes and take substantive measures for bilateral relations to recover. These substantive measures are interpreted as severing diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

Chui Hongjian, director of the European Studies Institute at the China Institute of International Studies, said, "If the Lithuanian government thinks that just changing the name is enough, that is a misconception," adding, "The Lithuanian government must admit its mistake and show sincerity to China."

The Global Times pointed out that the United States instigated the Lithuanian government and that Lithuania should make independent decisions free from U.S. influence.

The Global Times also reported that as relations with China deteriorated, Lithuanian President Gitanas Naus?da said in a domestic broadcast interview that "it was not the establishment of the Taiwan office itself but the name that was a mistake." It added that the Lithuanian government's approval rating has hit its lowest point in ten years due to worsening relations with China.

The media further claimed that some politicians in European countries such as Slovenia, Estonia, and the Czech Republic are showing moves to establish close ties with Taiwan following Lithuania, and that Lithuania's lesson?that crossing the red line leads to dangerous consequences?should be shown to them.

Meanwhile, the Lithuanian Olympic Committee announced that it will send its largest-ever delegation of 13 members to the Beijing Winter Olympics opening on February 4. The committee added that despite the special circumstances of COVID-19, it will send the athletes. This is interpreted as Lithuania sending the team to prevent further deterioration of relations with China, but China's obstinacy toward Lithuania is expected to continue.