On Monday (November 29), President Tsai Ing-wen told the visiting legislators of Baltic countries such as Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia that Taiwan and Europe must work together to resist authoritarianism and false information.
Since allowing Taiwan to open a de facto embassy in its capital, Lithuania has been facing continuous pressure from China, which claims Taiwan is its territory.
Beijing has increased its military and diplomatic pressure on Taipei to accept China’s sovereignty claims and limit its international participation, although Tsai said that Taiwan will not succumb to threats and will defend its freedom and democracy.
Tsai told members of the presidential palace that Taiwan and the Baltic states-once part of the Soviet Union-had similar experiences in getting rid of autocracy and fighting for freedom.
I am very happy to welcome a delegation of congressmen who love freedom and democracy #I🇪🇺Member States #Estonia🇪🇪, #Latvia🇱🇻 & #Lithuania🇱🇹 to #Taiwan🇹🇼. We hope that our Baltic friends will have a useful 8-day visit and look forward to their participation in the open parliamentary forum. pic.twitter.com/kfRpR2i0VZ
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MOFA_Taiwan) November 28, 2021
“The democracy we enjoy today is hard-won. This is what we all understand most deeply,” she said.
“The world is now facing the challenge of the expansion of authoritarianism and the threat of false information. Taiwan is very willing to share its experience in combating false information with European friends. We must defend our common values to ensure our free and democratic lifestyle.”
Matas Maldakis, the leader of the Taiwan Friendship Group of the Lithuanian Parliament, told Tsai Ing-wen that in response, their group expressed their solidarity with Taiwan in Taipei.
“The Lithuanian government’s Taiwan policy is widely supported by society. It is in the vital interests of Taiwan and Lithuania to maintain a free and rule-based international order,” he said.
China’s visit to Maldives Keith indicated that there are many opportunities for economic, trade and cultural cooperation between the two countries.
No EU member states have formal relations with Taiwan.
The United States strongly supports the dispute between Lithuania, its NATO ally, and China.
Lithuania is also facing pressure from Russia and Belarus, and immigration is on its border with Belarus.
