Taiwan still in talks with Estonia over opening reciprocal offices

Taipei, Nov. 5 (CNA) Taiwan is still in talks with Estonia on the "name and legal status" related to setting up reciprocal representative offices in the two countries, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said Wednesday.

Formal talks on the issue began in June, after Estonia's parliament passed an amendment to its Foreign Relations Act in April that paved the way for opening reciprocal representative offices in Taiwan and the Baltic state, Lin told lawmakers during a legislative session.

He said the talks are ongoing and are covering such issues as the title of the representative offices, their legal status, and other concerns related to diplomatic immunity and privileges.

Lin gave the overview on the talks when asked by lawmakers to comment on an English-language Nikkei Asia report on Monday that said Taiwan's plan to set up a mission in Estonia has "hit a wall" over the office name.

Taipei wants the office to follow the formula of its counterpart in Lithuania, called the "Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania," while Estonia has insisted on using "Taipei" out of concern about a Chinese backlash, the report cited several unnamed sources as saying.

Beijing strongly objected to Lithuania's 2021 decision to allow "Taiwanese" in the name of Taiwan's representative office in Lithuania because it implies that Taiwan is a sovereign country, separate from China.

China, which sees Taiwan as part of its territory, responded by recalling its ambassador to Vilnius, expelling Lithuania's ambassador to Beijing, suspending direct freight rail service to Lithuania, and severely restricting Lithuanian exports' access to the Chinese market.

Although Lithuania tried to restore diplomatic links with China after a new government assumed power in December 2024, it has remained insistent on not changing the name of Taiwan's representative office in Vilnius.