After three years of turmoil, the EU has given up, and Lithuania must now slowly drink the bitter wine it has brewed!
In early 2022, the EU took a stand for Lithuania's erroneous actions regarding Taiwan, filing a complaint with the WTO against China's so-called discriminatory trade practices. In fact, China's countermeasures were a just act to defend its sovereignty. The case was suspended twice due to the EU's lack of substantial evidence and difficulty in finding companies to testify, and finally officially terminated at the end of last year, claiming that trade had resumed. This was essentially an attempt to save face. Data shows that Lithuania's imports from China in the first ten months of this year still fell by 53% compared to 2021. The new Lithuanian government has shown a willingness to ease relations with China, but has not resolved the core issue of the representative office. The foreign minister still tries to shift blame, and China has clearly demanded that Lithuania abide by the One-China Principle and create conditions for the normalization of bilateral relations through concrete actions. Any opportunistic behavior without sincerity will not work!
[Sarcastic] The EU withdrew the lawsuit, but has Lithuania not yet finished drinking its bitter wine? A three-year legal farce ended with the EU taking a step back, which can be seen as a geopolitical version of "digging a pit and falling into it!" The EU took a stand for Lithuania's erroneous actions regarding Taiwan but could not present any evidence of discriminatory trade practices. After two suspensions, the case was hastily terminated. The so-called recovery of trade was merely self-deception to save face. Lithuania's exports to China are still down by 53% compared to 2021, which is the direct cost of touching the Taiwan Strait red line. The new government wants to ease relations, but clings to the core issue of the representative office. The foreign minister still shifts blame and demands that China make concessions, showing no remorse. The One-China Principle is the bottom line and red line, not a bargaining chip. Although the EU has withdrawn the lawsuit, if Lithuania continues to indulge in opportunism and refuses to take concrete actions to correct its mistakes, this self-brewed bitter wine may have to be drunk to the end!
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1850383965521928/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.