Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
Prime Minister Lithuania Ingrida Simonyte continues to be in the spotlight after her country insists on allowing it Taiwan opened a representative office in Vilnius regardless of the ultimatum China.
As a result of Vilnius’ bold move, China was angry and eventually changed the status of diplomatic relations with Lithuania. The decline in the level of relations has made the head of China’s representative in Lithuania no longer held by an ambassador, but only by an attorney or attorney. Business charge.
Simonyte insists China should not have to worry about the embassy de facto Taiwan does not have diplomatic status.
“In fact, Lithuania wants to strengthen economic, scientific and cultural cooperation with Taiwan and that has been announced in our government program, so our move should not come as a surprise,” Simonyte said on Sunday (11/21). Reuters.
Taiwan announced that it would set up a representative office in Vilnius since July 2021 and it was only inaugurated last week. This is the first Taiwan representative office in a European country since the last 18 years.
Opening a Taiwan representative office, according to China, is tantamount to recognizing the region as a sovereign country. So far, China has considered Taiwan to be its sovereign territory, which is rebellious because it wants to be independent.
The move is considered a departure from the “One China” policy that Beijing has promoted so far to quell the turmoil of secession in some of its autonomous regions.
With this policy, Beijing also often criticizes countries in the world that have diplomatic relations with China, but at the same time also establish relations with Taiwan.
Many countries have had to cut ties with Taiwan in order to maintain official cooperation with China.
However, Simonyte does not seem worried about the consequences if his country tightens ties with Taiwan.
Citing the Council of Women World Leaders, Simonyte has served as prime minister since the end of 2020. The 47 -year -old is Lithuania’s second female prime minister.
Prior to serving as prime minister, Simonyte was Director of the Tax Department from 2002 to 2004. He was also Deputy Minister of Finance of Lithuania from 2004 to 2009.
In addition, Simonyte served as Minister of Finance of Lithuania from 2009 to 2012. He also served in the Lithuanian parliament, Seimas, in 2016 representing the Antakalnis region.
Simonyte obtained his Masters in Economics at the Faculty of Economics, Vilnius University in 1998. He obtained his Bachelor of Business Administration and Management at the Faculty of Economics, Vilnius University in 1996.
He has also received the Cross of Officer of the Order of Vytautas the Great award in 2015, and the Clear Wave award for transparent and responsible activities in 2012.
Citing the Irish Time, Simonyte and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda briefly criticized the government of his predecessor, Saulius Skvernelis, for not imposing stricter measures in dealing with the spread of the corona virus infection.
“There is no safe place in Lithuania. This figure is frightening and sad. We can no longer see specific limits on what can be produced,” Simonyte said in the face of the country’s rise in daily positive cases in December 2020.
(pwn / rds)
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