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Lithuania considers modifying Taiwan representation name to defuse diplomatic row with Beijing
- Officials suggest changing office name to refer to ‘Taiwanese people’ rather than Taiwan to mend Vilnius-Beijing rift
- A single gesture will not change Beijing’s attitude on the issue, says observer
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Lithuanian officials, seeking to defuse a row with Beijing, are discussing whether to ask their Taiwanese counterparts to modify the Chinese translation of the name of Taiwan’s de facto embassy in Vilnius, two sources told Reuters.
The self-ruled island that Beijing views as part of its territory has other offices in Europe and the United States but they use the name of the city Taipei, avoiding reference to the island itself.
The row erupted after the Baltic state allowed the opening of the Taiwanese Representative Office in Vilnius.
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‘One China’ explained
‘One China’ explained
China has downgraded its diplomatic relationship with Lithuania and pressed multinationals to sever ties with the country or face exclusion from its market.
That is an unusually harsh move that has dragged companies into a political dispute and placed Beijing on a collision course with the European Union.
Modifying the Chinese version of the representation name to refer to “Taiwanese people” rather than to Taiwan, was last week proposed by Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis to President Gitanas Nauseda as a way to reduce the tensions with Beijing, sources said.
The change, which would bring the name in line with those used in Lithuanian and English, would need Taiwan’s agreement.
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