Lithuania developed a desire for freedom throughout its history, repressions from the autocracy in the past, whether it was from monarchs, or the Soviet Union had transformed into the determination of defending freedom at all costs.

When Lithuania was disappeared from the world map under the Soviet Union, we learned how much a nation dealing with the devil costs.

And then we were the first to revolt against the Soviet Union. I'm sitting in the parliament which was like the Tiananmen Square in Lithuania. I was 20 years old when Gorbachev came to Lithuania and sent tanks to kill Lithuanians. 

We were at the TV tower when they killed my friends from my own school. I saw it with my eyes and then we gathered around the parliament and we defended that freedom, 100,000 of us. 

And we saw the Red Army stopping and that was the beginning of the end of the Soviet Union.

Žygimantas Pavilionis, Member of the Lithuanian Parliament (Source: The Open Forum)

When you ask Lithuanians: why we support Taiwan? It’s a strange question, but also interesting. Because why not? We were like Taiwan, we were fighting against those autocratic regimes. 

When the 17+1 cooperation was proposed by China, we realized that was another trick. The trade with Communist China enslaved half of the European countries by dividing us from the western world. So we said ‘goodbye’.

We hope that the European Union will extend new trade links with Taiwan, and we hope that finally Taiwan, Lithuania, Ukraine, and nations like these will be standing together in international organizations. Then that will be the United Nations of democracies, fighting for freedom with every means we have.

Why was Lithuania not reliant on the Chinese market? What kind of impact does getting closer to Taiwan have on the Lithuanian economy?

We're used to economic coercion in this country. I remember when we declared independence in the 1990s, the Soviet Union introduced all possible blockades for us. But we survived. 

But on the other hand, we have that kind of resistance in our blood.

After the leave of Lithuania in the 17+1(now only 14+1), the Chinese government introduced all possible approaches against it, directly or indirectly, through existing trade links, on the European companies with a huge representation in Lithuania by discouraging them from developing their businesses. That’s what China was trying to do– divide and rule.

However, many European countries are still making the same Russian mistakes with China. 

Poland today is shaking hands with communist Beijing, the foreign ministers were meeting and speaking at the highest level. They didn't leave the 14+1. And that communist Chinese money to the European Union actually divides us from the inside.

You have to wake up before it’s too late. Bringing more Taiwanese businesses to Lithuania– stopping empowering China with your own money.

Consolidating our fight with Taiwan’s economic presence, like you already did in the Czech Republic. Lithuania had one year of struggle for you and we do not have your economic presence yet in Lithuania.

Can Taiwan be the trigger of WWIII? If that’s the case, why is no one talking about it?

If you want to live in peace, be prepared for war. Don’t be afraid of it. If you think by making Taiwan invisible, it would create peace, you are wrong. It is a sign of weakness that provokes autocracies to attack democracy.

In Lithuania, Taiwan is officially recognized with its proper name. It is a “Taiwanese” rather than a Taipei representative office. 

It is very clear you have to draw the line with autocracies before they invade the country because if you don't draw the line, this line will be driven by the autocracies. And then we will all pay so much that it will be too late to think so.

(This piece reflects the author's opinion, and does not represent the opinion of CommonWealth Magazine.)

Have you read?

• China and its allies: Changing dynamics in Global relations 
• Video report: Taiwan's most wanted talents 
• Despite ban, Chinese surveillance equipment infiltrate Taiwan in plain sight

Edited by Ian Huang
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