2024-04-15 16:59:18
D. Žalim: China is the second threat after Russia
Dainius Žalimas, the candidate nominated by the Freedom Party and the former chairman of the Constitutional Court (CT), emphasizes that China remains one of the biggest threats to Lithuania’s national security. According to him, Vilnius must cooperate with those foreign partners who share democratic ideas and values with Lithuania.
“The commonality of democratic values must be one of the criteria when choosing international cooperation, its directions and partners,” said D. Žalimas during the debate.
“It is very clear to everyone that the People’s Republic of China (…) is the number two threat, after Russia. It is clear that no more flexible relations with the People’s Republic of China are possible today – especially since they were broken not on our initiative”, he noted, reminding that it was Beijing that humiliated the diplomatic representation.
D. Žalimas added that Lithuania should find alternatives and diversify trade relations in order to diversify the damage suffered by businesses. However, the candidate emphasized – “China is clearly a threat.”
I. Vēgėlė: The opening of the Taiwanese representative office is a classic foreign policy mistake
Independently elected Ignas Vēgėlė takes the opposite position. According to him, Vilnius’s decision to open a Taiwanese representative office was a “classic foreign policy mistake”, because this way Lithuania did not get any economic benefits, nor did it become safer.
“We suffered concrete economic damage and did not receive any security benefits”, said I. Vēgėlė, emphasizing that Lithuania is the only one of the European Union (EU) countries to open a representative office of this type in Taipei.
He also pointed out that foreign policy decisions regarding Taiwan raise reasonable doubts that such steps were only beneficial to certain businesses and politicians. He mentions Teltonikas, a company with which Taipei signed an investment agreement.
The owner of “Teltonikas” is currently supporting Gitana Nausėdas in the election campaign with the maximum allowed amount,” said I. Vēgėlė.
“In my understanding, this is a violation of the Law on the Coordination of Public and Private Interests,” he stated.
Finally, I. Vēgėlė clearly declared that after becoming president, he would take decisions and propose changing the name of the Taiwanese representation.
“If they elect me as president, I will restore economic relations with China and change this senseless name (representation – ELTA),” declared the candidate.
D. Žalimas did not take long to react to such a statement – according to him, I. Vēgėlė also stated in an interview with “Žiniai Radio” that he intended to restore the embassies in Moscow and Minsk.
“I think this says a lot in itself,” added D. Žalimas.
However, I. Vēgėlė retorted that he sees an interest in having representatives of Lithuania’s diplomatic flank even in aggressor countries.
“Embassies must operate in those countries from which we need to receive information. (…) We must have officials operating in these states in order to have a direct source of information”, I. Vēgėlė answered the criticism.
E. Vaitkus: Lithuania should not refer to China
Another self-nominated candidate, doctor Eduardas Vaitkus, holds a position similar to that of I. Vēgėlė. He said he supported the “one China policy”, which Washington also adheres to.
“I would support the policy of a united China,” said E. Vaitkus during the debate.
“Just as the United States endorses this policy, so does the United Nations.” China must decide its own internal affairs, and Lithuania will not tell China how it is better for it, with whom it is better, when it is better”, the candidate detailed his position.
“I say let’s not interfere in the affairs of other countries,” he added.
A. Mazuronis: we must not be more Taiwanese than the Taiwanese themselves
At that time, the chairman of the Labor Party and the presidential candidate of this political force, Andrius Mazuronis, explained that he agreed with the idea that China poses a threat to Lithuania’s security. However, he pointed out that the situation should be evaluated rationally and drastic, hasty decisions should not be taken.
“We need to engage common sense, basic reason and logic. (…) We must not be more Taiwanese than the Taiwanese themselves”, said A. Mazuronis.
“When we talk about China as a threat, I agree. (…) But not seeing what is happening in the world and how other countries are behaving is also criminal,” stated the Chairman of the Labor Party.
He reminded that diplomatic relations between Lithuania and China are strained – the countries do not have ambassadors in each other’s capitals. This is how Beijing reacted to Lithuania’s decision to open a Taiwanese representative office.
“We don’t even have an embassy. The only ones, probably, from the entire European Union. What did we do with that rather sudden step? (…) We came into the spotlight of global politics, but we did it in such a way that our businesses and companies re-registered”, he regretted.
“When always making one or another decision, we have to evaluate the cost-benefit analysis,” added A. Mazuronis.
G. Jeglinskas: we cannot talk about any return of China
At that time, the candidate of the “Vardan Lietuvos” Democratic Union, former Deputy Minister of National Defense Giedrimas Jeglinskas supports Lithuania’s current policy towards China and Taiwan.
“I think the situation is very clear. China is a totalitarian state. To come now, to kneel before such people is not good for anyone”, emphasized G. Jeglinskas.
According to him, relations between Taiwan and Lithuania have not only economic, but also cultural and technological potential. The only problem, he noticed, is that Lithuania is not making enough efforts to develop these relations.
“We say that Taiwan did not fulfill some expectations, as many investments did not come as we wanted. But we didn’t do anything ourselves. I only propose to strengthen our policy towards Asian democracies, economic policy”, said G. Jeglinskas.
“At the moment, we cannot talk about any return of China,” he concluded.
2024-04-15 16:59:18