Lithuania jumped in front of train over Taiwanese office and lost - PM - BNS EXCLUSIVE

VILNIUS - By opening a Taiwanese representative office in Vilnius, Lithuania "jumped in front of the train and lost" because it did not coordinate its actions with the EU and the US, Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene says.

"I believe that Lithuania really jumped in front of the train and lost," she said in an interview with BNS on Tuesday.

According to the prime minister, although Taiwanese representative offices have also been opened in other European countries, they opened their doors "after normal coordination and choosing the name 'Taipei Representative Office'.

"And those countries somehow managed to keep their ties with China completely businesslike, but (...) it was probably a huge mistake on Lithuania's part to think that if we offered something ourselves and were the first to do something, the world would suddenly appreciate it. Well, we tried in this case, we have the Taiwanese Representative Office, but the world did not appreciate it, no one appreciated it," Ruginiene said.

In her opinion, a unified European position is the best tactic in relations with China.

"If we are putting certain relations or plans in place, we must look at our country's interests, and that should be number one priority, what is beneficial to our country and our people. (...) If it is not beneficial to our country and our people, why should we run away from the entire European Union, run down a path that leads nowhere? This is an example that shows that a different tactic is needed in international relations," the prime minister underlined.

As reported by BNS, Vilnius and Beijing have been at odds for the past few years over how to restore diplomatic representation in both countries following a dispute over the name of the Taiwanese Representative Office in Vilnius.

Since mid-May last year, there have been no accredited Chinese diplomats or other staff members working in Lithuania.

In June, then-Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas mentioned that a proposal to restore relations had been submitted to China, but no response has been received to date.

Following the change of government, the Ruginiene government's program includes the goal of "restoring diplomatic relations with China to the same diplomatic level as in other European Union countries."

"Turning back the clock is a very complicated process. If we manage to coordinate certain elements, little by little at the technical level, as we have outlined in our program, we see a real possibility of normalizing relations. This does not mean that we will immediately rush into each other's arms," Ruginiene explained.

Lithuania is currently taking "the first small steps" in talks with China, correspondence is ongoing, she said, adding, however, that in its bid to normalize relations with Beijing, Vilnius must coordinate its actions with the EU and the US.

"We have to see ourselves in the context of a larger entity and make decisions together that are beneficial to Lithuania specifically. (...) Having damaged and completely severed ties and relations, normalizing them will require a very difficult and long journey," the prime minister said.

"This has to do with balancing relations, including with our strategic partners, the US and the European Union. It is very difficult to rebuild what has been destroyed, but we are gradually moving towards not being enemies, but at least having more normal technical and business relations," she said.

As reported by BNS, President Gitanas Nauseda, for his part, says that restoring relations with China requires the will of both countries. However, Lithuania sees the dangers of too close cooperation with the communist regime.

In an interview broadcast on the Ziniu Radijas news radio on Tuesday, the president said that, as in the case of Belarus, "the Chinese government is enabling Russia's actions in Ukraine," and that excessive dependence on China has repeatedly caused many problems for Europe.