Lithuanian MP Urges Stronger Security Ties with Taiwan and Focus on Drone Industry

(Central News Agency Reporter Hou Tzu-ying, Washington, 5th, Special Report) Lithuanian Member of Parliament and former Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė stated yesterday at a Washington think tank seminar that cooperation between Lithuania and Taiwan should prioritize the security sector, including social resilience, civil defense, and drones. She also said that allies working side by side serves the direct interests of Europe, the US, and the Indo-Pacific, and that a Chinese attack on Taiwan would cause immense devastation.

Šakalienė recently visited Washington and attended the seminar "Taiwan’s Connections to Regional and Global Security" hosted by the Global Taiwan Institute (GTI) yesterday.

Having visited Taiwan in March this year, Šakalienė stated that cooperation between Lithuania and Taiwan should prioritize the security realm, including sharing how to counter disinformation, as well as cybersecurity, social resilience, and civil defense.

Following the seminar, Šakalienė told a CNA reporter that in terms of civil defense, Taiwan has much that Lithuania can learn from, such as Taiwan's network of air raid shelters, how to notify and guide the public, and logistics planning during crises.

Another potential area for cooperation is drones. Šakalienė mentioned that both sides have already begun discussing the possibility of collaboration. Drones are crucial for Europe, the United States, and the Indo-Pacific region alike. Lithuania has many companies with cutting-edge technology, and Taiwan's expansion of drone production capabilities, along with cooperation in the joint production of certain equipment, are worth further exploration.

She also expressed hope for seeing future trilateral cooperation in drone production involving Lithuania, Ukraine, and Taiwan.

Furthermore, amidst continuous Chinese military provocations, Šakalienė warned at the seminar that if China begins invasion operations in the Indo-Pacific region, Russia will start invading NATO countries; "if we can strengthen our military forces as soon as possible" and alter certain strategies, there might be a chance to make China delay its actions.

She believes that working together is in the direct interest of Europe, the US, and the Indo-Pacific, and that a Chinese attack on Taiwan would result in massive destruction. She added that making a joint effort to deter and sending a signal that "such deterrence will cause harm to China" is of utmost importance.

Šakalienė pointed out that compromising with Russia or China will only encourage them to further advance their imperialist expansion plans.

Additionally, given the crucial position of Taiwan's semiconductor industry globally, Šakalienė stated that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would cause a severe shock to the global economy. "We must think about this possibility," which is that Taiwan's semiconductor industry isn't destroyed but taken over by China, giving Beijing control in this area.

She said that if this happens, "we either fall into a terrible trap," or Taiwan's semiconductor industry is destroyed, heavily damaging the global economy.

Šakalienė visited Taiwan in March to attend the Yushan Forum and was awarded the "Friendship Medal of Diplomacy" by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung pointed out that in 2025, Šakalienė, in her capacity as Minister of National Defense, oversaw the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense's release of an Indo-Pacific strategy document. This document clearly expressed firm support for Taiwan's right to develop its self-defense capabilities, highlighting the importance of deepening cooperation between the two sides in the security domain.