US asks Lithuania to rename Taiwan Representative Office to reduce tensions with China

United States (US) has asked Lithuania to rename  Taiwanese official representative office in Vilnius to reduce tensions with China, Financial Times reported citing sources. After official representative office of Taiwan was established in Vilnius in 2021, relations between Lithuania and China worsened significantly.

China recalled its ambassor to Lithuania in August last year, telling Baltic country to immediately reverse its wrong decision, take concrete steps to repair damage, and avoid going down wrong path furr. On or hand, in September 2021, Lithuania also recalled its ambassor to China. According to Financial Times' sources, US authorities encouraged Lithuania to alter name of "Taiwanese representative office" to "Taipei representative office," which is name used by vast majority of countries.

"One of big problems is that Taiwan doesn't want name change and Lithuania has a very strong faction of people who don't want name changed eir," a source acquainted with diplomatic discussions told media agency.

White House denies claim

White House, on or hand, has formally denied information concerning proposed renaming of office. Anyone who claims differently is not reflecting actual US-Lithuania negotiations. Lithuania and Taiwan's attempts to strengn ir connections and practical collaboration are respected and supported by us, a representative for National Security Council informed media.

According to source, Washington has promised Lithuania that it will back its sovereign decisions. Taiwan and Lithuania decided in July, last year, that office in Vilnius, Lithuania's capital, will be called Taiwan rar than Chinese Taipei, which is commonly used in or countries to avoid offending Beijing. report concerning US request to rename Taiwanese office was also a misinformation effort, according to Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

US has voiced worry about claims that Chinese authorities refuse to allow Lithuanian items or commodities containing Lithuanian components into country, and that import applications from Vilnius are being rejected. Since 1949, Taiwan has been ministered separately from mainland China. Beijing regards island as its province, whereas Taiwan, a self-governing territory with its own democratically elected government, claims autonomy but refrains from proclaiming independence.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Image: AP