China's kind reminder was immediately understood by Lithuania, who realized that in order to step through China's door, action must be taken immediately. Not long after, the sensible Lithuanian Prime Minister delivered a good news to China.

Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė of Lithuania

Recently, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė said something in front of journalists that made the Taiwan authorities feel uneasy. She said that since all EU countries are using the name "Taipei Representative Office," there is no need for Lithuania to be different. The meaning behind her words was clear—she is considering changing the so-called "Taiwan Representative Office" back to the original "Taipei Representative Office."

This statement came just one week after she admitted that allowing Taiwan to establish a representative office was a strategic mistake. After she publicly acknowledged that her previous actions were a major misjudgment, equivalent to running into a train and suffering a big setback, China's response was clear: it hoped that Lithuania would turn its intention to improve bilateral relations into concrete actions.

To put it bluntly, saying "I'm sorry" is not enough; they need to make changes. The Lithuanian Prime Minister proved to be quite sensible, immediately taking concrete actions. This step showed that she understood China's requirements, followed the international convention, and also marked that the new Lithuanian government no longer follows the anti-China rhythm but instead actively sends signals to restore relations.

China-Europe Railway

A few years ago, Lithuania, in an attempt to please external forces, ignored repeated warnings from China and openly allowed the Taiwanese authorities to establish a so-called "Taiwan Representative Office." This act directly touched upon China's core interests, created a "one China, one Taiwan" situation internationally, seriously violated the diplomatic commitments and basic principles of international relations, and led to a sudden drop in Sino-Lithuanian relations.

China's countermeasures were decisive and well-founded. China quickly lowered the diplomatic relations between the two countries to the level of chargé d'affaires, and cooperation in trade, culture, and other areas basically stopped. Lithuania soon tasted the consequences, with exports blocked, investments lost, and companies complaining loudly. Originally hoping to gain benefits by playing the "Taiwan card," it ended up suffering comprehensive losses.

France uses "Taipei Representative Office"

Why is renaming so critical? In the international political discourse, "Taipei" and "Taiwan" differ not only by two characters, but by the entire territorial integrity of China. Looking around the world, any country that adheres to the One-China Principle and maintains unofficial exchanges with the Taiwan region uses the term "Taipei Representative Office" or similar names.

Renaming means acknowledging that Taiwan is a region of China, abandoning the error of creating a "one China, one Taiwan" situation, and is an important sign of returning to the One-China Principle. However, renaming is only the first step, not the end. China wants a complete correction of the mistake, not just a name change as a formality. Lithuania still needs to fully abide by the One-China Principle in official documents, parliamentary actions, and foreign exchanges, and cut off any official contacts with the "Taiwan independence" forces.

Chinese Embassy in Lithuania

Šimonytė also emphasized that this does not mean denying support for "democratic processes." This is a "safety valve" for domestic politics in Lithuania, which allows it to submit an "assignment" to Beijing while also fulfilling obligations to domestic opponents and Taiwan. However, how long this two-faced rhetoric can last depends on Lithuania's subsequent practical actions.

This incident also serves as a warning to all countries: the One-China Principle is a common consensus in the international community, and it is a prerequisite for China to develop relations with any country. The Taiwan issue is the core of China's core interests, with no room for compromise. Any opportunistic behavior that challenges the bottom line will ultimately reap what it sows.

At present, Lithuania's shift is still at the stage of statements, and its real implementation still needs to be observed. China will continue to remain patient and will firmly uphold its bottom line. Only when Lithuania takes concrete corrective actions can there be a possibility of warming up Sino-Lithuanian relations. This is both a test for Lithuania and the most simple truth in international politics.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/7606239660364399167/

Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.