During the meetings of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and in their official appeals to the Lithuanian ministers of health and of foreign affairs, Žygimantas Pavilionis, Audronius Ažubalis, and Emanuelis Zingeris, Members of the Seimas representing the Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats, suggested that Taiwanese experience and assistance should be used. After all, Taiwan was among the first countries to draw the attention of the global community to the spread of the extremely dangerous virus, which had been long concealed by Communist China, and is an inspiring example of a successful fight against the coronavirus.
‘It is evident that after a long delay to take necessary steps and employ the assistance and experience from the EU, NATO, and other global democracies, the government went down the easiest path by accepting and later purchasing, at a very high price, low-quality support from Communist China, which took a great deal of time to be transported by Russian oligarch-owned or even military aircrafts, thus paying a service to the Kremlin’s and Beijing’s attacks against the European Union and NATO. Taiwan’s offer of help, however, shows that in Lithuania’s battle against the virus, there are other options of assistance, which are much safer, more reliable, and not likely to threaten our long-term national security interests.
Luckily, after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs took over the coordination of international assistance and after having considered proposals from the opposition, Lithuania is receiving assistance not only from Taiwan but also from South Korea, the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy. We have also begun to take part in EU procurements, and soon the necessary means will be flown in by NATO aircrafts.
As usual, it is too late and too little. And yet we hope that this line of assistance will prevail in the long run and we will be able overcome the addiction to leaning on Beijing and the Kremlin, which we have deliberately been weaned on hoping that we will probably pay up the debt later in Klaipėda, through railways, by introducing 5G connection, using financial technologies, further dividing the European Union in the Chinese Communist 17+1 format, lifting sanctions against Russia, or surrendering over the Astravyets nuclear power plant, which the Kremlin is about to provide with nuclear fuel. This will not happen if Lithuania continues to act in unity and prudence in its foreign and security policy and does not succumb to the Kremlin’s and Beijing’s lobbyists in our government,’ Mr Pavilionis said.
Mr Pavilionis also reminded that members of the Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats had proposed opening the Lithuanian economic representation in Taiwan, one of the most innovative, resilient, and strongest economies in the world. Most EU Member States have established such representations in Taiwan and enjoy active Taiwanese investments and growing trade in innovative Taiwanese products, while other countries, such as Poland, export a large volume of agricultural and other products to Taiwan and learn ways to resist the growing global threats from Communist China.
‘Following the coronavirus crisis, the world will obviously change, and we will have to review EU industrial and other transatlantic strategies and reduce our dependence on Communist China, for which we all are now paying too high a price,’ said Ambassador Pavilionis.
For more information on the Taiwanese support, please contact H.E. Mr Andy Chin, Representative of Taipei Mission, by telephone 371 2 6634888.
