Relationship dossier
People's Republic of China
Lithuania
Relationship assessment
Relations sharply strained by the Taiwan representative office dispute and subsequent trade restrictions
People's Republic of China toward Lithuania
-55China downgraded diplomatic relations with Lithuania in 2021 after Lithuania allowed a Taiwanese representative office to open in Vilnius under the name “Taiwan.” China also restricted trade with Lithuania amid the dispute.
Lithuania toward People's Republic of China
-40Lithuania permitted the Taiwanese representative office to open in Vilnius under the name “Taiwan” in 2021 and withdrew from the China-led 17+1 cooperation format. These government decisions marked a more confrontational approach to China.
Overall relationship
-45The bilateral relationship has been dominated by the 2021 dispute over Taiwan representation and its consequences. China’s diplomatic downgrade and trade restrictions, alongside Lithuania’s withdrawal from 17+1, have produced sustained confrontation that outweighs earlier engagement.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
China-Lithuania relations have been sharply strained since Lithuania permitted a Taiwanese representative office to open in Vilnius under the name “Taiwan” in 2021. China downgraded diplomatic relations and restricted trade with Lithuania; Lithuania withdrew from the China-led 17+1 cooperation format and has continued support for closer ties with Taiwan. These disputes have outweighed earlier engagement.
Areas of tension
- Taiwan’s representation in Vilnius under the name “Taiwan”
- Chinese diplomatic downgrading and trade restrictions affecting Lithuania
- Lithuania’s withdrawal from the China-led 17+1 cooperation format
Key developments
Lithuania withdrew from the China-led 17+1 cooperation format.
China downgraded diplomatic relations with Lithuania following the dispute over Lithuania’s decision to permit a Taiwanese representative office in Vilnius under the name “Taiwan.”
A Taiwanese representative office opened in Vilnius under the name “Taiwan,” triggering a major dispute with China.
Major uncertainties
- The full scope and implementation of Chinese trade restrictions affecting Lithuania remain unclear.
- The extent of subsequent government-level efforts to restore bilateral relations is uncertain.