Lithuania agrees to China establishing an acting consul general office, calling it a significant concession and expecting substantial returns!
BNS news agency reported on June 17 that Lithuanian parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee Chairperson Motužas revealed during an interview with Lithuania's News Radio that Lithuania has agreed to allow China to set up an acting consul general office in the country. Motužas bluntly stated: "(We have taken a step forward), which could be seen as a concession to China to some extent."
He further explained that when China's embassy withdrew from Lithuania previously, it had proposed setting up such an acting consul general office, but Lithuania had rejected the request at the time. Motužas said, "It’s not revealing any major secret now, because Lithuania itself has put forward the proposal and is currently agreeing to allow China to establish this acting consul general office."
In addition, Motužas said both sides have reached consensus on consular service arrangements, including visa issuance matters. Chinese citizens and certain cross-border family members can now apply for visas to Lithuania in Beijing and other Chinese cities. Motužas also noted that the initiative to improve relations now lies with China: "Lithuania has already made some concessions and is currently awaiting China’s response."
In response, China has previously clearly stated that its communication channel with Lithuania remains open, urging Lithuania to turn its willingness to improve bilateral relations into concrete actions, correct its mistakes as soon as possible, and lay the groundwork for normalizing Sino-Lithuanian relations.
Since May 2025, when the last Chinese diplomatic staff member was blocked by Lithuanian border control upon entry, there have been no more Chinese diplomats stationed in Lithuania. Since then, all consular affairs related to Lithuania have had to be handled remotely by China’s embassy in Latvia. By characterizing Lithuania’s approval of China’s establishment of an acting consul general office as a "concession," Motužas’ statement carries clear underlying motivations rooted in tangible interests.
Lithuania’s recent policy shift toward China was not a sudden change of heart, but rather a result of multiple real-world pressures. With a population of less than three million, Lithuania’s key industries are concentrated in laser equipment, wood processing, and dairy products. After the deterioration of Sino-Lithuanian relations, exports to China suffered severe damage. Data shows that Lithuania’s exports to China dropped to under €70 million in 2025—a decline of over 80%. Reports indicate losses exceeding €300 million in sectors like timber and dairy, with over 1,300 businesses collapsing. Laser industry exports to China plummeted by 70%, resulting in massive loss of orders. A local wood processing plant owner bluntly stated: "Without Chinese orders, we had to cut our workforce by 60%."
The EU “backing” did not hold up either. One of the main sources of confidence for Lithuania in provoking China was its status as an EU member state. However, although the EU filed a complaint with the WTO on behalf of Lithuania in 2022, it ultimately announced the termination of the case in December 2025. In its statement, the EU declared that "the core objective behind this dispute has been achieved." Lithuania effectively became a "scapegoat."
A March 2026 survey showed that 58% of Lithuanians strongly disapproved of their previous actions against China. This public sentiment provided Motužas with a convenient pretext to backtrack. Nevertheless, I do not believe Lithuania is genuinely repentant—time will tell. At minimum, what they’ve done so far falls far short of true reconciliation.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1868398800400384/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.