A group of US lawmakers urged Lithuania to resist pressure and coercion from communist China and to maintain close relations with democratic Taiwan, BNS reported. In a joint letter sent to Lithuania’s political leaders, the co-chairs of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus of the US House of Representatives noted that China continued to exert pressure on countries that maintained any form of relationship with Taiwan. They stressed the importance of maintaining relations with countries that cherished democratic values, pointing out that Taiwan had been a reliable and trusted partner for decades, ELTA reported. Also, the signatories of the letter noted that China continued to support Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, thus undermining European security interests. The bipartisan letter was signed by Andy Barr, Ami Bera, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Greg Stanton.
In response, Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry stated that Taiwan remained a “significant regional partner,” BNS reported. Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevicius said that Lithuania’s interest was to strengthen ties with foreign nations and developing mutually beneficial cooperation. Parliamentary speaker Juozas Olekas noted that while supporting democratic states, Lithuania also seeks to restore ties with China. Meanwhile, a group of Lithuanian MPs plans to meet with Chinese high representatives in Brussels, ELTA reports. The MPs have established a cross-party group advocating for the normalisation of diplomatic relations with China. At the same time, China has imposed export restrictions on Lithuanian laser manufacturer Ekspla in retaliation for EU sanctions against Russia, LRT reported. Lithuania’s Economy Ministry is assessing the potential impact of the move.