Coronavirus: An Opportunity to Rethink Relations with Taiwan - An Open Letter to the President of the Republic of Lithuania
22nd of April, 2020
Vilnius
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Your Excellency, President of the Republic,
We address you in the context of an unprecedented global pandemic. The ultimate consequences of the crisis for Lithuanian and global society, economy, culture, and international relations are still difficult to predict, but it is clear that they will be extremely severe.
However, humanity could have averted the dangers of COVID-19, or at least better prepared for it, had the spread of the virus not been concealed in the earliest stages from the world community by the Chinese Communist Party regime. The authorities in the People’s Republic of China have kept secret the facts of the epidemic, repressed doctors who sought to draw the attention of their colleagues and the world community to this new and threatening infection, and are still falsifying statistics on infections and deaths. Under influence from the Chinese authorities, the World Health Organization suppressed information on a new type of virus spreading in Wuhan, Hubei Province, downplaying the threat of infection, the possibility of human-to-human infection, and refusing to declare a global pandemic even after the coronavirus spread to many parts of the world. Although Taiwan’s health officials as early as the end of December of 2019 warned about the high likelihood of the human-to-human infection, the World Health Organization suppressed the report.
Thus, not only Chinese citizens, but all people of the world suffer from the lies and repressive policies of a regime in China bent on returning to totalitarianism. Moreover, China, whose opaque and dishonest behavior has led to the present depth and scale of the global coronavirus crisis, is now resolutely seeking to exploit the situation by intensifying persecution of dissidents within the country and expanding geopolitical networks of influence, wielding soft power through the supply of feigned humanitarian aid.
The country that is particularly hard hit by, and suffers most damage from, the aggressive policies of the Chinese Communist Party is Taiwan. Taiwan is constantly threatened by military force. Due to the brutal pressure from China, this democratic state of 23 million people has lost all representation in international organizations. While Taiwan’s response to the coronavirus pandemic is cited as a paragon of good practice, China is preventing Taiwan from participating in the World Health Organization, even as an observer, whereby it could share good practices and obtain timely information relevant to the pandemic.
Thanks to its unique historical experience and geopolitical situation, Lithuania should show solidarity with free, democratic societies of the world and support their resistance to the aggression of totalitarian and authoritarian regimes. When Lithuania declared its restoration of independence from the Soviet Union, the first state to express official diplomatic support for Lithuania’s still fragile statehood was tiny Iceland. We believe that now, three decades after March 11, Lithuania is herself ready to demonstrate her commitment to the fundamental constitutional values of freedom and democracy by expressing similar support for Taiwan.
During the long decades of the Cold War, Taiwan was one of the few countries to have consistently pursued a policy of non-recognition of the occupation of the Baltic States. Taiwan also supported initiatives of diplomatic resistance to the Soviet occupation of Lithuania. Today Taiwan is selflessly providing humanitarian aid to Lithuania in the fight against the pandemic.
Taiwan is a de facto independent state with which Lithuania and other European Union members maintain productive relations in many areas. Avoiding diplomatic recognition of Taiwan simply due to the conditions laid down by the Chinese Communist regime means that the European Union as a whole succumbs to political and economic coercion in its relations with China, essentially accepting the position of an unequal partner and harming its Member States, as well as the rest of the free world.
For its part, the development of Lithuania’s political and diplomatic relations with Taiwan is a good opportunity to strengthen cooperation with the strategic partner crucial to our security, the United States, which supports Taiwan’s membership in international organizations.
Your Excellency, in the presidential election debates you emphasized the need to expand not only economic, but also political relations with Taiwan. We are confident that you will adhere to this principled position. Therefore, we invite you to lead Lithuania’s policy in East Asia along a value-based path, expressing sincere support for Lithuania’s ally Taiwan in the following ways:
- supporting, at the highest political level, Taiwan’s involvement in the World Health Organization meetings, activities and mechanisms (including the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, or GOARN) and to support its full participation in the World Health Assembly;
- addressing the United Nations regarding Taiwan’s participation in the United Nations and its subsidiary international organizations, primarily the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO);
- initiating the opening of the Lithuanian Economic Representation in Taiwan;
- raising the Taiwan recognition issue at the European Council and in other political formats of the European Union.
Respectfully,
- Dr. Mantas Adomėnas, Parliament of Lithuania
- Vilija Aleknaitė-Abramikienė, Parliament of Lithuania
- Eugenijus Ališanka, writer, translator
- Prof. Vytautas Ališauskas, Vilnius University
- Paulius Ambrazevičius, comedian, „Humoro klubas“
- Dr. Konstantinas Andrijauskas, Asia scholar
- Dr. Laima Liucija Andrikienė, Signatory of the Act of Independence
- Mariusz Antonowicz, Vilnius University
- Dr. Arvydas Anušauskas, Parliament of Lithuania
- Aušrinė Armonaitė, Parliament of Lithuania
- Petras Auštrevičius, European Parliament
- Dr. Guoda Azguridienė, Lithuanian Free Market Institute
- Audronius Ažubalis, Parliament of Lithuania
- Dr. Viktoras Bachmetjevas, Vytautas Magnus University
- Juozapas Bagdonas, independent investigative journalist
- Elžbieta Banytė, teacher, Vilnius Abraomas Kulvietis Classical Gymnasium
- Dr. Darius Baronas, Lithuanian Institute of History
- Gintautas Bartkus, advocate
- Andrius Bautronis, Mayor of Raseiniai
- Arvidas Bendorius, blogger
- Žilvinas Bieliauskas, Vilnius Jewish Public Library
- Vladas Braziūnas, writer, translator, National Prize laureate
- Toma Bružaitė, social activist
- Prof. Alfredas Bumblauskas, Vilnius University
- Simas Čelutka, Vilnius University
- Dr. Norbertas Černiauskas, Vilnius University
- Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Parliament of Lithuania
- Irena Degutienė, Parliament of Lithuania
- Dr. Justinas Dementavičius, Vilnius University
- Regimantas Dima, writer
- Prof. Marija Drėmaitė, Vilnius University
- Girvydas Duoblys, Centre for Civic Initiatives
- Giedrius Dusevičius, businessman
- Justas Džiugelis, Parliament of Lithuania
- Dainius Elertas, historian
- Andrijana Filinaitė, cultural & heritage activist
- Prof. Danutė Gailienė, Vilnius University
- Antanas Gailius, poet, translator, National Prize laureate
- Dr. Bernardas Gailius, historian, author
- Rosita Garškaitė, „Bernardinai.lt“ internet portal
- Aistė Gedvilienė, Parliament of Lithuania
- Prof. Arūnas Gelūnas, Lithuanian National Museum of Art
- Eugenijus Gentvilas, Parliament of Lithuania
- Simonas Gentvilas, Parliament of Lithuania
- Paulius Gritėnas, philosopher, author
- Irena Haase, Parliament of Lithuania
- Mark Adam Harold, social activist
- Audronis Imbrasas, cultural impresario / Vilnius City Council
- Darius Indrišionis, Vilnius University
- Prof. Massimo Introvigne, sociologist / „Bitter Winter“ internet portal
- Jokūbas Jacovskis, graphic artist, illustrator
- Prof. Adas Jakubauskas, Union of the Lithuanian Tartar Communities
- Prof. Tomas Janeliūnas, Vilnius University
- Valdas Jankauskas, Lithuanian Children and Youth Centre
- Prof. Giedrė Jankevičiūtė, Lithuanian Culture Research Institute
- Edita Janulevičiūtė, author, East Asia expert
- Amb. Albinas Januška, Signatory of the Act of Independence
- Ksenija Jaroševaitė, skulptorė, Nacionalinės premijos laureatė
- Prof. Alvydas Jokubaitis, Vilnius University
- Liudas Jonaitis, Parliament of Lithuania
- Antanas Jonynas, writer, translator, National Prize laureate
- Laimantas Jonušys, translator, literatūros kritikas
- Dr. Nijolė Juchnevičienė, Vilnius University
- Rasa Juknevičienė, European Parliament, Signatory of the Act of Independence
- Prof. Vytautas Juozapaitis, Parliament of Lithuania, National Prize laureate
- Dr. Paulius Jurčys, lawyer
- Vytis Jurkonis, Vilnius University
- Paulius Juška, painter, Vilnius Academy of Arts
- Audrys Karalius, architect, social activist
- Dr. Gintas Karalius, Vilnius University
- Dr. Laurynas Kasčiūnas, Parliament of Lithuania
- Algis Kašėta, Mayor of Varėna
- Aurelijus Katkevičius, paper „Verslo žinios“
- Vytautas Kernagis, Parliament of Lithuania
- Dainius Kreivys, Parliament of Lithuania
- Andrius Kubilius, European Parliament
- Dr. Darius Kuolys, Vilnius University
- Andrius Kupčinskas, Parliament of Lithuania
- Paulė Kuzmickienė, Parliament of Lithuania
- Gabrielius Landsbergis, Parliament of Lithuania
- Vladimiras Laučius, political analyst and commentator, Eastern Europe Studies Centre / „Delfi.lt“ internet portal
- Marius Laurinavičius, Vilnius Institute for Policy Analysis
- Mečys Laurinkus, Signatory of the Act of Independence
- Prof. Rimvydas Laužikas, museologist
- Dr. Pavel Lavrinec, Vilnius University
- Prof. Zigmas Lydeka, Vytautas Magnus University
- Prof. Šarūnas Liekis, Vytautas Magnus University
- Prof. Raimundas Lopata, political scientist
- Edward Lucas, author, Center for European Policy Analysis
- Prof. Alvydas Lukys, Vilnius Academy of Arts
- Dr. Aušra Maldeikienė, European Parliament
- Dr. Klaudijus Maniokas, public sector consultant
- Eglė Markevičiūtė, lobbyist, GLIK Agency
- Ramūnas Markovas, CEO
- Dr. Mantas Martišius, communication scholar
- Umberto Masi, Freedom Party National Board
- Prof. Kęstutis Masiulis, Parliament of Lithuania
- Dr. Sigita Maslauskaitė-Mažylienė, painter, art historian, Church Heritage Museum / Vilnius Academy of Arts
- Bronislovas Matelis, Parliament of Lithuania
- Aleksandras Matonis, journalist
- Antanas Matulas, Parliament of Lithuania
- Prof. Daumantas Matulis, Vilnius University
- Prof. Gintautas Mažeikis, Vytautas Magnus University
- Prof. Liudas Mažylis, European Parliament
- Maksimas Milta, European Humanities University
- Dr. Alisa Miniotaitė, leadership scholar
- Valentinas Mitė, journalist
- Radvilė Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė, Parliament of Lithuania
- Dr. Sigitas Narbutas, The Wroblewski Library of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences
- Egidijus Nasevičius, blogger
- Dr. Andrius Navickas, Parliament of Lithuania
- Kęstutis Navickas, environmentalist
- Monika Navickienė, Parliament of Lithuania
- Dr. Mindaugas Nefas, historian, social activist
- Dr. Arvydas Nekrošius, Parliament of Lithuania
- Sigutis Obelevičius, Mayor of Anykščiai
- Jonas Ohman, social activist
- Dr. Juozas Olekas, European Parliament
- Aušra Papirtienė, Parliament of Lithuania
- Dr. Žygimantas Pavilionis, Parliament of Lithuania
- Saulius Pečeliūnas, Signatory of the Act of Independence
- Laurynas Peluritis, Vilnius University
- Rasa Petrauskienė, Parliament of Lithuania
- Edgaras Pilypaitis, Mayor of Šakiai
- Kornelijus Platelis, writer, National Prize laureate
- Lt. Gen. Arvydas Pocius, Ret., former Chief of Defence of Lithuania
- Kazimieras Preikšas, commentator
- Lukas Puidokas, Baltic & South-East Asian Chamber of Commerce
- Dr. Mindaugas Puidokas, Parliament of Lithuania
- Aidas Puklevičius, commentator, writer
- Dr. Andžej Pukšto, Vytautas Magnus University
- Edmundas Pupinis, Parliament of Lithuania
- Donatas Puslys, author, social activist
- Petras Pušinskas, Mayor of Skuodas
- Dr. Nerija Putinaitė, Vilnius University
- Aleksander Radczenko, commentator, lawyer
- Dainius Radzevičius, journalist
- Dr. Petras Ragauskas, jurist, advocate
- Dr. Eligijus Raila, Vilnius University
- Algis Ramanauskas, actor
- Rolandas Rastauskas, writer, National Prize laureate
- Jurgis Razma, Parliament of Lithuania
- Romas Sadauskas-Kvietkevičius, journalist
- Giedrius Sakalauskas, Res Publica Civic Resilience Centre
- Dr. Paulius Saudargas, Parliament of Lithuania
- Raimondas Savickas, artist
- Ričardas Savukynas, blogger
- Virginijus Savukynas, journalist, maker of documentary films and TV shows
- Valerijus Simulik, Parliament of Lithuania
- Dr. Gintarė Skaistė, Parliament of Lithuania
- Šarūnas Skyrius, businessman
- Andriejus Stančikas, Parliament of Lithuania
- Prof. Mindaugas Stankūnas, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences
- Dr. Arūnas Starkus, journal „Vyno žurnalas“ / Wine Club
- Karolis Stasiukėnas, Liberal Movement political party National Board
- Gintaras Steponavičius, Parliament of Lithuania
- Zenonas Streikus, Parliament of Lithuania
- Prof. Paulius V. Subačius, Vilnius University
- Marius Sukesian, podcaster, author
- Dovilė Šakalienė, Parliament of Lithuania
- Rimantė Šalaševičiūtė, Parliament of Lithuania
- Rimas Šapauskas, actor
- Robertas Šarknickas, Parliament of Lithuania
- Dr. Stasys Šedbaras, Parliament of Lithuania
- Dr. Nerijus Šepetys, Vilnius University
- Prof. Rita Šerpytytė, Vilnius University
- Dr. Diana Šileikaitė-Kaishauri, Vilnius University
- Arūnas Šileris, publishing house „Vyturys“
- Ingrida Šimonytė, Parliament of Lithuania
- Justas Šireika, businessman
- Dr. Jurgita Šiugždinienė, Kaunas University of Technology
- Alvydas Šlepikas, writer
- Kristina Tamelytė, author, „Bernardinai.lt“ internet portal
- Antanas Terleckas, historian
- Ramūnas Terleckas, journalist, commentator
- Tomas Tomilinas, Parliament of Lithuania
- Vytenis Tomkus, Mayor of Kaišiadorys
- Dr. Skaidra Trilupaitytė, art critic, cultural politics scholar
- Viktorija Trimbel, businesswoman, social activist
- Skirmantas Tumelis, Vilnius City Council
- Rūta Tumėnaitė, cultural review „Naujasis Židinys-Aidai“
- Dr. Darius Udrys, Vilnius University
- Vladas Urbanavičius, sculptor, National Prize laureate
- Povilas Urbšys, Parliament of Lithuania
- Dr. Mikas Vaicekauskas, Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore
- Prof. Loreta Vaicekauskienė, Vilnius University
- Gintaras Vaičekauskas, Parliament of Lithuania
- Lukas Kornelijus Vaičiakas, President of LiJOT – Council of the Lithuanian Youth Organisations
- Dr. Virginijus Valentinavičius, Mykolas Romeris University
- Dr. Egidijus Vareikis, Parliament of Lithuania
- Prof. Irena Vaišvilaitė, Vilnius University
- Amb. Petras Vaitiekūnas, Signatory of the Act of Independence
- Dr. Nida Vasiliauskaitė, philosopher, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University
- Prof. Irena Veisaitė, theatre scholar & critic, social activist
- Vytis Vidūnas, Tibeto namai / Vilnius University
- Arkadijus Vinokuras, writer, journalist, actor
- Rytis Zemkauskas, author, TV show host
- Dr. Aurelijus Zykas, Vytautas Magnus University / Azija LT
- Emanuelis Zingeris, Parliament of Lithuania, Signatory of the Act of Independence
- Agnė Žagrakalytė-Platelienė, writer
- Remigijus Žemaitaitis, Parliament of Lithuania
- Prof. Justinas Žilinskas, writer / Mykolas Romeris University
- Dr. Rūta Žiliukaitė, Vilnius University
- Vaidotas Žukas, artist
