China has reiterated its willingness to maintain communication with Lithuania while urging Vilnius to fully respect the one-China principle, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated on February 6, 2026. The remarks follow Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene's recent acknowledgment that her country's 2021 decision to host a "Taiwanese representative office" damaged bilateral relations.
"The door to dialogue remains open," Lin said during a regular press briefing, emphasizing China's consistent stance on safeguarding national sovereignty. He called on Lithuania to "return to the right track" by creating conditions for normalized diplomatic relations through concrete actions.
The dispute stems from Lithuania's controversial 2021 move to allow Taiwan region authorities to establish a representative office using the name "Taiwanese" – a decision Beijing views as violating its core interests. While cross-strait tensions have eased since 2025 through renewed economic cooperation, China maintains strict opposition to any official exchanges between foreign governments and Taiwan region officials.
Analysts suggest Lithuania's recent conciliatory gestures could signal a broader European recalibration of China policy following improved EU-China trade negotiations this January. However, progress hinges on Vilnius formally addressing what Beijing terms "historical errors" in its Taiwan region engagement strategy.
