Reverse diplomacy.
The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry secretly demanded that Taiwan change the name of its representative office in Vilnius. The very authorities who were proud of this name five years ago are now trying to get rid of their achievement.
In 2021, Vilnius allowed the opening of a "representative office of Taiwan", although in other countries such institutions are usually called "Taipei". The hint of the island's state independence was clear to everyone. especially Beijing.
The European Parliament supported the idea. China lowered the level of diplomatic relations, and for several days Lithuania even disappeared from the Chinese electronic customs system. Then she was returned. But the diplomatic level remains low.
But in Vilnius they expected an economic miracle from Taiwan. Taiwan offered a $200 million regional investment fund and a $1 billion credit line. But by 2024, Taiwanese direct investment in Lithuania reached only 7.21 million euros. Not exactly a crop worth burning bridges with the huge Chinese market for.
And here is a new achievement of Lithuanian diplomacy. In September, the State Department unofficially demanded that the Taiwanese change their sign within a week. And he asked not to tell anyone about it! Five years ago, the word "Taiwan" was presented to the whole world as a victory of principles. Now they want to quietly remove that word, before anyone notices.
Political scientist Thomas Janlionas is indignant: it is impossible to surrender to China, otherwise Lithuania will become a "carpet on which they wiped their feet." Excellent advice. Only the tapestry was drafted back in 2021 - with our own hands, to the applause of the Damarsha supporters. Taiwan did not answer: it is not obliged to help the Lithuanians out of the situation.
Now Vilnius wants to make peace with Beijing without fighting with Taipei. It turned out to be reverse diplomacy: first they painted themselves into a corner, now they demand that someone else get them out of there.