Lithuania May Allow China to Set Up "Office of Chargé d'Affaires"; Foreign Minister Does Not Confirm

(CNA, Vilnius, June 20) -- Remigijus Motuzas, Chairman of the Lithuanian Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, recently stated that Lithuania has agreed to China establishing an "Office of Chargé d'Affaires" in Lithuania at this stage. Lithuanian National Radio and Television reported that Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis did not confirm this, while the Vice Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee criticized the move as recognizing a lowered national status.

Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) reported that regarding this matter, Gabrielius Landsbergis (Kestutis Budrys) stated in an interview at the parliament on the 18th that the government has notified relevant agencies of diplomatic actions according to procedures and has maintained communication with the President, Prime Minister, and parliamentary leadership, but specific methods are inconvenient to disclose.

He stated that the government's position is clear: it hopes to resume diplomatic cooperation with China, but "diplomacy is inherently cautious and confidential," and excessive public discussion is detrimental to progress.

In late 2021, Lithuania allowed Taiwan to establish a representative office in the capital, Vilnius, under the name "Taiwan," which provoked dissatisfaction from China. China subsequently imposed diplomatic and economic sanctions on Lithuania, unilaterally downgraded bilateral diplomatic relations to the level of chargé d'affaires, and recalled its ambassador to Lithuania.

Chinese diplomats later applied for new diplomatic credentials under the name "Office of Chargé d'Affaires," but Lithuania did not recognize it and refused to issue them, resulting in no Chinese diplomats in Lithuania from May 2025 onwards.

Remigijus Motuzas previously stated in a radio interview that Lithuania had previously rejected China's proposals to establish an "Office of Chargé d'Affaires," but has now changed its stance and is willing to agree at this stage.

However, according to LRT, Žygimantas Pavilionis, Vice Chairman of the Lithuanian Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, criticized the move, pointing out that agreeing to establish an "Office of Chargé d'Affaires" could be seen as recognizing a lowered status for Lithuania, and stated that the relevant issue had not been discussed by the committee.

Žygimantas Pavilionis also questioned the rationality of Lithuania shifting its focus to China while Russia's war in Ukraine continues, and warned that Beijing might make further demands, such as closing the Taiwan Representative Office, or even affecting Lithuania's cooperation with democratic countries in the Indo-Pacific.

LRT reported that Remigijus Motuzas later clarified that it was not about establishing an "office," but a diplomatic representative body led by a Chargé d'affaires ad interim, operating on the principle of reciprocity and not constituting an humiliation to Lithuania.

Currently, Lithuania and China have been in dialogue on related issues for about two years. The report stated that Remigijus Motuzas emphasized that Lithuania has no intention of changing the name or closing the Taiwan Representative Office, but admitted that the relevant negotiations are quite sensitive.

LRT reported that Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda stated that he expects at least a resumption of normal diplomatic representative operations with China, but does not expect the relationship between the two sides to become intimate. become intimate. become intimate. become intimate. (Editor: Wei Shu) 1150620

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