Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim gave an interview to Lithuania National Radio and Television at the Presidential Office recently in Taipei City to discuss key issues such as Taiwan-Lithuania ties and cross-strait relations.
According to the PO, Hsiao said Taiwan and Lithuania share many historic similarities in that both were subject to authoritarian suppression and coercion. Due to the expanding alliance among authoritarian regimes, the two partners need to stand in unity to defend the freedom and democracy that they treasure.
The VP said the two democratic nations also possess prowess in key technologies, including Taiwan’s advanced semiconductor manufacturing that drives AI revolution, and Lithuania’s cutting-edge biological, financial and laser technologies. Expanding economic and investment ties will help both sides reduce reliance on authoritarian regimes and safeguard the rules-based international market order, she added.
Hsiao said the establishment of the Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania underscored the values of freedom, democracy and peace shared by the two countries, and thanked the Lithuanian people for their commitment to democracy. The reciprocal representative offices serve as key platforms to promote public- and private-sector cooperation and enhance understanding between the two civic societies, the VP added.
Despite persistent threats from China, Hsiao said, the Taiwanese are peace-loving people who do not want confrontation with anyone. The ongoing Ukraine-Russia war serves as a reminder that peace cannot be taken for granted. Taiwan continues to enhance its self-defense capabilities and social resilience, she said, adding that the country will continue engaging with the global community to promote democracy, freedom and peace.
The VP also called for further cultural and people-to-people exchanges, citing the success of past events, such as Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra’s performances earlier this month in Taiwan, and the 2023 Basketball World Cup New Taipei City Warm-up Series involving the Baltic state. Such soft power engagement deepens understanding between the people of both countries, she said. (SFC-E)
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