Lithuania Seeks to Normalize Relations With China Without Changing Taiwan Office Name
ISTANBUL, October 27, 2026: Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said Tuesday that efforts to restore full diplomatic relations with China should not be made conditional on changing the name of Taiwan’s representative office in Vilnius.
Speaking to Lithuanian radio station Ziniu Radijas, Nauseda said Lithuania’s primary objective was to bring its relationship with Beijing back to a normal level. He described the restoration of diplomatic ties as a practical goal that should be pursued regardless of the dispute over the office’s name.
The president suggested that both countries could initially restore relations through lower-level diplomatic representation, with deputy heads of mission serving instead of ambassadors.
Nauseda said it remained too early to determine whether ongoing discussions with Beijing would lead to tangible progress. However, he noted that meetings scheduled for next month could provide a clearer indication of the prospects for negotiations.
Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevicius has previously expressed hope that the two countries could achieve a breakthrough in their relations before the end of the year, according to Lithuania’s public broadcaster LRT.
Diplomatic ties between Lithuania and China deteriorated in 2021 after Vilnius permitted Taiwan to establish a representative office under the name “Taiwanese.” Similar offices in other countries generally use the name Taipei, which Beijing favours.
China responded by reducing its diplomatic representation in Lithuania from ambassadorial level to charge d’affaires. Lithuania subsequently stopped issuing new accreditations to Chinese diplomats, leaving China without accredited diplomatic representatives in the country since May 2025, according to LRT.
The latest statements suggest that Lithuania is seeking a pragmatic path toward renewed engagement with Beijing while maintaining its position on Taiwan’s representative office.
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