Tiny Lithuania Takes On Giant China
Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne (right) and Lithuania’s counterpart Gabrielius Landsbergis hold a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on February 9, 2022.
In an attempt to fight the Chinese trade coercion, the Lithuanian Foreign Minister stated on Wednesday that his country has formed an “exclusive club” with Australia that would not help Lithuania solve its problems. This exclusive club will likely make China as an international laughing stock for its immature, imprudent and impenitent actions to coerce a tiny country and provoke sovereignty issues. Lithuania as a country cannot be prevented by any from having full diplomatic ties with Taiwan an independent Sovereign Country.
China thus naturally become the main topic for Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis’ meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne on Wednesday. Landsbergis, at a joint conference with his Australian counterpart, reiterated the accusation of China for acting as the global disruptor and called Australia as one of the main examples when China was using economy and trade as a political weapon.
To stress their shared experience, the Lithuanian Foreign Minister added that Lithuania joined the “exclusive club” with Australia, and the two foreign ministers agreed to step up cooperation on strategic challenges, especially against pressure from China.
In November 2021, China downgraded ties with Lithuania after the latter’s move of allowing the Taiwan authorities to open a representative office under the name of Taiwan in Vilnius. Bilateral trade also suffered due to coercive actions by China.
By voicing its support to Lithuania, Australia has also demonstrated its stand against Chinese coercive trade practices.
The Morrison government has been trying it’s best, not to succumb to Chinese pressure tactics, though trade with China has been severely impacted. For example, Chinese imports from Australia across 12 key non-iron ore commodities, including coal, barely, beef, timber, wine and lobster plummeted in the first nine months of 2021 compared with 2019.
Before flying to Australia, Landsbergis visited Singapore and stated that Lithuania sees Singapore as a “gateway” to other Southeast Asian markets.
As Singapore is an important fortress in the Strait of Malacca, it is one reason for him to visit Singapore. Singapore’s “small size” and heavyweight influence in ASEAN is Lithuania’s focus for making the visit.
Lithuania is also seeking assistance from the European Union, though the EU is also trying to solve disputes with China through the World Trade Organization.
In January, the EU announced it was taking China to the WTO after disputes over Lithuanian exports surfaced.
