Taiwan: Baltic lawmakers meet President Tsai Ing-wen in a sign of further cooperation

In a sign of increased cooperation between European Union nations and Taiwan, lawmakers from all three Baltic states met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Monday. It is first time that members of parliament from Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia have been to Taiwan toger. President Tsai greeted leers who came to attend '2021 Open Parliament Forum.' It has been hosted by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Tsai noted that Taiwan shares values and experiences with three countries. She said that Taiwan and Baltic countries have comparable histories of defying authoritarian government and battling for freedom.

" democracy we enjoy today was hard-earned. This is something we all understand most profoundly," she was quoted as saying by Associated Press (AP). Meanwhile, Lithuanian delegation's leer, Matas Maldeikis, expressed his desire for much stronger ties with Taiwan. "We are here to express our solidarity with you. We hope soon-to-be-open Lithuanian tre office in Taiwan will help to expand partnership between two countries and contribute to a closer relationship with Taiwan and whole European bloc," he ded. 

Earlier this month, Taiwan h established a de facto embassy in Lithuania, known as Taiwanese Representative Office. Lithuania also intends to open a representative office in Taiwan. Meanwhile, China has cut its diplomatic relations with Lithuania to level of a sub-ambassor and also recalled its ambassor. In dition, President Xi Jinping-led Chinese government h also dismissed Lithuania's ambassor from Beijing.

Taiwan slams China for its continued interference

It is pertinent to mention here that self-ruled island's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on Sunday, November 28, slammed China for its continued intimidation of Taiwan's diplomacy. It stated that relations between Taiwan and Lithuania are a "matter between two countries and have nothing to do with Beijing." China has no jurisdiction to influence or tell Taipei how to build or enhance ties, MAC ded. Despite Taiwan's self-government being present for more than seven deces, Beijing claims absolute sovereignty over island. However, Taipei has fought Chinese aggression by strengning strategic connections with democracies, especially United States, which Beijing has frequently opposed.

(With inputs from AP)

Image: AP