In diplomatic U-turn, Vilnius rues Taiwan de facto embassy row with Beijing

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 1 min read 100% complete by Vanessa CaiFebruary 5, 2026 at 01:11 PM

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Lithuania is regretting its decision to allow Taiwan to open a de facto embassy in Vilnius using the name "Taiwanese" instead of "Taipei." This move, made in 2021, angered Beijing, which views it as a violation of its "one-China" principle. A Lithuanian official, Ruginiene, stated that Lithuania mistakenly believed the world would appreciate its initiative, but it did not. As a result of the decision, Beijing recalled its ambassador to Lithuania in August 2021, marking the first time Beijing had done so with an EU nation since 1993. The diplomatic fallout has led Lithuania to reassess its approach.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Taipei 50% European Union 50% Ruginiene 60% Taiwan 80% Beijing ×390% Lithuania ×390%

Keywords

taiwan 90% china 90% beijing 80% lithuania 80% diplomatic u-turn 70% one-china principle 70% de facto embassy 70% diplomatic relations 60% representative office 50% political mistake 40%