CHINA SIGNALS WILLINGNESS TO REOPEN DIALOGUE WITH LITHUANIA OVER TAIWAN DISPUTE
By Anele Dlamini
#SDN, 6 February 2026
BEIJING: China has said it is open to talks with Lithuania following comments by the Baltic nation’s prime minister indicating a reassessment of a controversial policy toward Taiwan, according to Reuters.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė, described as a “mistake” the country’s 2021 decision to allow Taiwan to open a de facto representative office in Vilnius. She told the Baltic News Service that her government had begun taking “small first steps” aimed at repairing relations with Beijing.
Responding on Friday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Beijing remained open to communication but stressed that any improvement in ties depended on concrete action from Lithuania. He urged Vilnius to “promptly rectify its error,” adhere to the One-China policy and create conditions for the normalisation of bilateral relations. “The door for communication between China and Lithuania remains open,” Lin said at a news briefing.
Relations between the two countries sharply deteriorated in late 2021 after Lithuania allowed the opening of the “Taiwanese” representative office, a move Beijing viewed as a challenge to its position that Taiwan is part of China. In response, China downgraded diplomatic ties, while Lithuania recalled its ambassador and other diplomats. Tensions continued in subsequent years, including the expulsion of three Chinese diplomats from Vilnius in late 2024 and restrictions imposed by China on two Lithuanian banks.
Ruginienė acknowledged the costs of the dispute, telling the news service that Lithuania had “jumped in front of a train and lost.”
Taiwan, however, defended the relationship, with its foreign ministry saying Lithuania and Taiwan share values of freedom and democracy and had mutually agreed on the name of the office. Taipei added that cooperation between the two sides had expanded since the office was established and pledged to continue close coordination with Vilnius.